The Kenya Navy is on the spotlight after they were accused of abandoning fishermen who were stranded in the Indian Ocean after their fishing boat drifted into the deep sea.
The fishermen were stuck in the Indian Ocean for 17 days since December 9.
Speaking to Citizen TV, Maliq Mbwana, captain of the boat, revealed that on their ninth day at sea, they encountered officers from the Kenya Navy who were carrying out a routine patrol.
When they asked for help from the officers, their advances were allegedly denied.
"Around the ninth day, we encountered the Navy who were patrolling the sea. It was our joy because they are supposed to come to our aid in the sea," Maliq stated.
"We asked them for help, food and water but they turned us down. They declined to offer us even water alone," he added.
Malik revealed that the strong winds, heavy rains and their boat fuel running out was the reason for the 17-day stay at sea.
"We met a lot of challenges, strong winds, heavy rains, we ran out of fuel, we did not know where we were," Malik stated.
Citizen TV reported that the fishermen survived by feeding on about 58kgs of raw fish they had caught and drunk the salty seawater.
They were hopeful of being rescued and on December 26 at 3.00 am in the morning their boat drifted closer to Ngomeni village, Kilifi County where they finally found salvage.
They were rushed to the Malindi sub-county hospital where they received treatment before being discharged.
Watch one of the fisherman's harrowing tale below:
