Likoni ferry tragedy: Uhuru condoles with family of Mariam Kigenda

President Uhuru Kenyatta has sent a message of condolence after the bodies of Mariam Kigenda and her daughter Amanda Mutheu were retrieved from the Likoni channel.

He said the Government will continue to support Mr. John Wambua as he mourns his wife and daughter who drowned after their car plunged into the Indian Ocean from the ferry.

“The President regrets the unfortunate incident and assures all Kenyans that efforts are being made to ensure that a similar incident does not occur in future,” the statement from State House reads.

Divers retrieved the bodies of the two victims on Friday, 13 days after the vehicle submerged.

Investigations are underway to determine what led the car to plunge into the water.

The President has since indicated four measures that the government is taking to avert a similar incident in future.

“Besides the ongoing revamp of ferry services, the President notes that the proposed Likoni Gate Bridge, the ongoing construction of the Dongo Kundu by-pass as well as the completion of the Samburu-Kinango-Kwale Road will help ease the pressure on sea crossing between Mombasa Island and the South Coast,” the State House statement adds.

President Kenyatta also thanked the multi-agency team that was involved in the recovery operation citing their ‘relentless efforts in ensuring the long, tedious and risky undertaking was a success.’