Lamu Women Rep escapes death at sea after boat capsizes

Lamu Women Representative Ruweida Obo survived death at sea on Tuesday after a boat she had boarded capsized.

Obo, who was in the company 15 other people, had just left Mtangawanda in Pate Island in Lamu East and was headed for a civic education function when the boat capsized at the Mkanda channel.

The channel is just a few metres from the new Lamu port-LAPSSET.

The boat is believed to have hit a coral reef in the area throwing three occupants into the waters before capsizing.

Among those on board were three chiefs who had accompanied Obo. 

Obo confirmed the accident and explained that the captain had lost control of the boat and hit a rock causing the accident.

 The three chiefs who were thrown overboard following the impact were rescued by local divers shortly after the accident.

They, however, lost material possessions they had, including mobile phones, documents, cameras and other equipment which they were going to use during the civic education forums.

The 15 boat occupants all escaped with minor injuries and were admitted briefly at the King Fahad County Referral  Hospital where they were treated and discharged.

“We are all fine apart from a few minor injuries here and there," Obo said.

"We however lost all our personal items and other valuables when the boat overturned. We are just glad we are okay.”

This becomes the latest accident in a growing list of marine accidents recorded in Lamu in 2021.

According to records at the Kenya Maritime Authority, Lamu county recorded the highest number of marine deaths in the entire coastal region in the year 2021.

As per the report which was released recently, a total of 11 people died in boat accidents on various dates on the Indian Ocean between January and December this year.

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 like Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Taita Taveta and Tana River recorded less than ten deaths and less than 20 cases of marine accident survivors.

There have been calls from Lamu leaders for the establishment of a Marine search and rescue centre in the region following increased boat accidents and deaths.

Despite the worrying statistics, Lamu does not have proper equipment to help victims of marine accidents in the unfortunate events of accidents at sea.

Lives have been lost at sea following delays in response, search and rescue from a locally assembled team of divers.

The divers' operations are largely plagued by a lack of technical and financial support.

At least 15 people die from marine accidents in Lamu every year according to the Fisheries and Transport departments in the county.

This year, the month of August registered the highest number of marine incidents with seven deaths and sinking of 12 boats. 

(edited by Amol Awuor)