The family and friends of the mother and daughter who lost their lives following the tragic Likoni ferry accident on Monday, September 30, gave a passionate appeal to the government to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones.
Speaking to NTV, Miriam Kalekye - a close friend of the deceased lamented over laxity on the part of the Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) in response to the tragedy.
"Since yesterday up until now, there has been no action. We haven't seen any divers at the scene. We were asked to pay for a taxi to bring a special diver to help out but so far, nothing has happened," she decried.
The latest information from the KFS Managing Director, Bakari Gowa, was that they had hired a private firm of experts to aid in the recovery of the vehicle as well as the victims.
Authorities confirmed that the vehicle had plunged to a depth of 60 metres, adding that they were currently in talks with the Kenya Navy for more larger capacity oxygen tanks since the ferry services divers could only descend to a depth of 30 metres with the oxygen tanks available.
A police report filed at Ferry Police Station has since identified the deceased as Mariam Kigenda, 35, and her daughter Amanda Mutheu, 4.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke Mwende, a local resident revealed that reports on the ground claimed that there was a third unidentified woman in the vehicle as well, with The Standard claiming that the third victim was Kigenda's other daughter.
She went on to explain that initial reports alleged that Kigenda car engine was still running when she boarded the ferry, taking up the very last line. It is believed that she accidentally engaged the reverse gear, plunging them into the deep harbour.
"The loading ramp was all the way down as the vehicle reversed straight into the ocean, maybe if it was pulled up, even just by a few degrees, it would have stopped the car's momentum," Mwende narrated.
Several leaders and countless Kenyans have come out and strongly castigated KFS over what they termed as negligence.
"It is very sad to watch people die when their car drove off the ferry and people could only watch helplessly as they drowned. This now raises new concerns on safety on the ferry all over again," former Mombasa gubernatorial candidate, Suleiman Shabal stated in a tweet.
Here's a short clip of the presser held by Kigenda's close friends and family:
