Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has ordered the inspection of passenger boats operating along the Coast following a boat accident that left two people dead.
The directive was issued after a leisure boat capsized in Tudor Creek on Saturday evening after encountering strong waves.
Five people were rescued following the accident, while two adults who had been reported missing were later found dead near Nyali Beach on Sunday.
According to Nassir, he had directed the Kenya Maritime Authority to conduct inspections to determine the seaworthiness of passenger vessels operating along the coastline.
“The Kenya Maritime Authority will be directed to undertake rigorous inspections to confirm the seaworthiness of all vessels ferrying our coastal members of the public,” Nassir said.
The inspection will focus on the state of the boat, maintenance of the boat, the safety equipment and also the compliance to safety standards by the boat operators.
Moreover, boat operators will be directed to check the weather advisories before venturing out to sea and also make sure that the passengers are always wearing life jackets.
Governor Nassir paid a visit to the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital following the accident and extended condolences to the family of the two people who lost their lives.
He warned residents and boat operators to take extra care while at sea, saying the current El Niño conditions could make marine activities more dangerous.
“The current El Niño phenomenon is more severe than those previously experienced, and the public must exercise exceptional caution when undertaking any activity at sea,” he said.
The governor urged boat operators to service their vessels regularly and avoid putting passengers at risk when weather conditions are unfavourable.
He also commended the County Marine Rescue Unit, lifeguards recruited from local Beach Management Units, the Kenya Coast Guard Service and other responders who took part in the rescue operation.
“No commercial or recreational activity should ever take precedence over human life,” Nassir said.
The order comes amid efforts by the Coast region to prepare for increased rainfall, with agencies monitoring flood-prone areas.
Some of the regions that are forecasted to receive rains include Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, and Lamu counties while the Tana region is at risk due to floods from the highlands.
