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Image: ANDREW KASUKU
The Senate now wants Kenya Ferry Services Managing Director Bakari Gowa to resign.
In a motion on Wednesday at the Senate, the legislators accused the KFS of failing to take its mandate seriously to ensure Kenyans are safe on the ferries.
The senators further asked government to take full responsibility of the tragedy and compensate the family of the late Mariam.
Mombasa senator Mohamed Faki while moving the motion said it was worrying that there is no help that has been accorded three days since the accident happened.
He said instead, Kenya Ferry Services has been issuing blanket excuses on how the operation to retrieve the two bodies has been marred by challenges.
“Mr Speaker iut is a shame that an entire KFS has no emergency boat, ambulance, divers or anything that can handle such emergency cases. To make it worse we have an operational Coast Guard and a Maritime Authority that whose duty is to ensure safety on the ocean,” Faki said.
He said as a result, both KFS, Kenya Ports authority which is the biggest beneficiary of the channel, Coast Guard and the Maritime Authority must be held responsible.
It is even shocking that after the Mtongwe ferry accident that left 250 people dead KFS has done nothing to deal with such a disaster,” Faki added.
He said it was unfortunate that four out of the five ferries owned by KFS, have no doors or safety measures to avoid such incidences.
“This tragedy is of unprecedented proportions and has displayed the highest level of gross negligence,” Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula said.
He said videos circulating on social media have shown how the vehicle slid from the ferry slowly into the shallow waters before it was swept to the deep sea.
Mr Speaker someone tried to jump in the water with a rope hoping he would salvage but unfortunately he wouldn’t. It is a cardinal responsibility for government to ensure safety of its citizens, He said.
Wetang'ula added, “The fate that Mariam met, can befall on each one of us. What is shocking is the manner in which KFS has responded and Kenyans are left wondering whether over 100,000 people served daily are safe”.
“Our ferries should not be perceived as death traps. It is even amasing that as a country we lack scientific capacity to determine the depth of the sea and this is a clear indication that KFS has taken the wrong direction,” he said.
Wetangula said the laxity by Kenya Navy to conduct continous patrols on the ocean is what has even given Somalia an opportunity to terrorise Kenya on its maritime territory.
“We demand that the government compensates the family and takes responsibility. As a country we have failed, we cannot let Mombasa County run the ferry service or maritime issues. Going forward, the government must table a comprehensive report on the status of ferry operations,” He added.
Senator Ongeri said it was unfortunate the ferries are procured at exorbitant prices yet they are faulty.
If KFS can’t manage ferries, what about cable cars. By now the MD should have resigned for laxity. The Maritime authority should have known the geographical characteristics of the channels. Kenya Coast Guard sleeping on job. Tragedy happens on their eyes but nowhere to be seen,” Ongeri said.
The legislators said if KFS, KPA, Maritime Authority and Coast Guard combined efforts, they would have rescued the victims.