State suspends operations of speed boats at Kona Punda after tragedy claimed over 20 lives

The government has with immediate effect suspended operations of private speed boats at the flooded Kona Punda area in Tana River following the tragic accident in the area on Sunday.

Speaking to the press after touring the Kona Punda area where the search and rescue team is camping, Tana River Deputy County Commissioner Andrew Mutua said stern action will be taken against anyone found defying the order.

Three bodies were on Monday morning retrieved by the search team as they continued to search for more bodies. On Sunday, the team rescued 22 people while 23 are still missing from the boat that had close to 45  people on board.

“I want to make it very categorical that no boat will be allowed to ferry passengers either to or from Garissa until we give another communication on the same,” he said.

“The only boats that will be allowed are the ones which are searching for bodies or survivors. Anybody else who defies the order will have themselves to blame."

The DCC who was accompanied by Tana River Deputy Governor Mahat Loka and the county security team said that the government was pursuing the owner of the boat that capsized as he was still at large.

He further disclosed that the security apparatus were still looking the rider of the boat at the time of the incident with reports suggesting that he might have fled.

Mutua said the incident occurred as a result of negligence by the members of the public who were risking their lives to cross the flooded area after the government closed the road and declared it unsafe for pedestrians.

He urged members of the public to be patient and suspend their travel plans to either Garissa, Mombasa or Nairobi until the water level subsides.

Speaking in the Mororo area while assessing the flood situation, Garissa Governor Nathif Jama termed the boat tragedy unfortunate and urged members of the public to avoid putting their lives at risk.

He called for the apprehension of all who were operating the boat that he claimed was unlicensed by both Garissa and Tana River counties.

“They are criminals driven by greed, they have no regard for the safety of the public. We call upon the government to immediately apprehend them," Jama said.

The governor also challenged the Kenya National Highway Authority to quickly complete the rehabilitation of all roads in the area destroyed by the rains.

“How come this road was not repaired for all that duration, Why put only sand when they know it can easily be swept," he questioned.  

The governor also took a swipe at the National government and particularly the Kenya Electricity Generating Company for negligence and not finding a lasting solution over the continuous release of the waters from the mega dams.

“These waters can be diverted with the creation of more other dams where they can release to without haphazardly letting it come to destroy people's lives and livelihood,"Jama lamented.

He called for an urgent solution towards the endless floods. At Mororo, where the tragedy occurred, hundreds of people were displaced after their houses were submerged by the river floods.