Lamu county recorded the highest number of marine deaths in the entire Coast region this year according to a report by the Kenya Maritime Authority.
At least 11 people died in boat accidents on various dates on the Indian Ocean between January and December.
Another 166 were rescued from death through the swift action of responders that included teams from the KMA, the county disaster rescue unit and local divers.
Lamu had the highest number of deaths at 11 while the rest of the coastal counties of Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Taita Taveta and Tana River recorded less than 10 deaths and less than 20 cases of marine accident survivors.
In August, Kilifi recorded seven deaths of sailors from the Comoros islands after their boat which had aboard 15 people sank at Watamu area due to rough tides at sea.
Eight sailors were rescued from the accident.
For Lamu county however, the month of August was the worst this year as the region recorded 12 boat accidents that resulted in the deaths of seven people.
Most of those involved in the accidents were fishermen.
The KMA director Robert Njue said to improve marine safety, the authority has been undertaking trainings and sensitisations engagements with sailors and other stakeholders in Lamu and other coastal counties.
Those who complete these trainings are given certificates to prove that they are ready and able to practice safety at sea.
This year, over 300 Lamu sailors have been certified by the authority after successfully completing marine trainings on safety and other segments.
“Our core objective is to ensure safety at sea and ensure deaths and accidents become a thing of the past. The number of sea accidents is alarming and that is why KMA has embarked on a rigorous training for sailors and other players in the marine transport sector,” Njue said.
In August this year, two fishermen died while three were rescued after their boat sunk at Tenewi area, close to Mpeketoni, Lamu West.
In April this year, one person died while two were rescued after a cargo boat capsized at Tusitiri area in Lamu island.
In November, two people were rescued after a cargo boat transporting bags of groceries sunk at Tusitiri area in Lamu island.
In August, three fishermen were rescued after their boat capsized at Shella area in Lamu island.
The same month, four fishermen were rescued after their boat sunk at Ziwani area in Kiunga, Lamu East.
In July this year, seven Tanzanian sailors were rescued off the coast of Lamu after their cargo boat capsized at Shanga area in Lamu East.
They had left Dar es Salaam and were headed to Kismayu in Somalia when their boat encountered rough tides and overturned.
In March this year, four people were injured after a boat they had boarded lost control and rammed into a seawall at the Mokowe jetty.
The worst marine accident recorded in Lamu’s history remains that of August 2017 where 12 family members of ODM politician Shekuwe Kahale died in a boat accident at the Manda-Bruno channel.
In the accident, the MP lost his wife and all his four children.
He was the sole survivor and witnessed the deaths of his family at sea.
-Edited by SKanyara
