The ferry, MV Harambee, is said to have been from the mainland side (Likoni) plying to the island side (Mombasa town)/FILE – KFS
MOMBASA, Kenya, Sep 30 – The occupants of a station wagon which plunged into the Kilindini Habour during a routine ferry service on Sunday have been identified as 34-year-old Mariam Kigenda and her 4-year-old daughter Amanda Mutheu.
The identities were revealed Monday by police assigned to the crossing channel ending speculation that there could have been up to four persons on board the ill-fated vehicle.
An Occurrence Book (OB) report filed at the Ferry Police Station indicated that the vehicle reversed past a ramp at around 18.08HRS plunging into the waters.
The vehicle was identified as a Toyota ISIS, registration number KCB 289C, is said to have inordinately reverse plunging into the sea as the KFS vessel it was on crossed the busy channel.
The vessel the ill-fated vehicle was on – MV Harambee – was on a routine service across the Likoni channel.
Police said a search and rescue operation for the occupants who were on board the vehicle.
The Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) which operates vessels between the Likoni mainland to Mombasa island was joined by Kenya Navy, Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Mombasa county disaster management teams as the operation resumed.
The salvage operation was called off Sunday night over lack of equipment to carry out a night search.
Likoni OCPD Benjamin Rotich had said in an earlier interview the vehicle slid off the ferry while midstream.
MV Harambee is said to have been from the mainland side (Likoni) plying to the island side (Mombasa town).
“The ferry was about to reach the island side, when the driver reversed and plunged into the ocean. We suspect that the driver was an amateur. However, we are still investigating the issue,” said Rotich.
However, KFS, through a statement to newsrooms on Sunday, said the vehicle had two occupants.
“It is with sadness that we confirm an accident occurred on board MV. Harambee which was plying from mainland to the island side at 1815hrs, when a saloon car alleged with two occupants reversed and plunged into the sea midstream,” the statement read.
“Neither the car nor the occupants have been retrieved. We share our sincere sympathies to the affected as the salvage operations continue,” said KFS.
About The Author
