The Landcruiser which was ferrying two KRA officials before being swept by floods in Kwale on Friday evening has been retrieved.
The Interior Ministry in a statement on Sunday confirmed that the vehicle belonging to Kenya Revenue Authority had been retrieved without the bodies of the two officers.
The Principal Secretary of Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo said a multi-agency team had intensified efforts to retrieve the bodies.
The ministry said the team led by the Kenya Coast Guard Service is on the scene trying to retrieve the bodies.
This is after a vehicle belonging to KRA ferrying the two was swept away by floods at Ramisi Bridge in Lungalunga in Kwale while on its way to Mombasa.
The two, a driver and one senior staff were heading to Mombasa from Lunga-Lunga when the tragedy happened.
Omollo revealed the identities of the two as Joram Maina, Lungalunga Border Management Committee Chairperson and David Ng’ang’a according to information obtained from Lungalunga One Stop Border Post.
“The vehicle has been pulled out from the raging waters and towed to Msambweni Police station without the bodies of the two officers,” Omollo said.
“However, a multi-agency team led by the Kenya Coast Guard Service is on scene trying to retrieve the bodies. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends at this difficult time,” the PS added.
According to Lunga-Lunga Deputy County Commissioner Joseph Sawe, the incident happened at around 7pm.
The two tried to cross the flooded Ramisi Bridge near the Kwale International Sugar Company Limited.
However, the DCC revealed that when the two officers reached the Ramisi Bridge they were ordered by police officers deployed to man the area to stop but defied and decided to cross.
At this time, water was overflowing and overpowered the vehicle away with the duo still inside.
"The two were warned not to cross but convinced the officers to be allowed to pass but unfortunately the water was too strong," Sawe added.
On Saturday Kenya Revenue Authority issued a statement confirming the incident.
At least three people have died and 681 households severely affected by floods in Kwale County.
Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha said Kwale is among the worst-hit coastal counties following the heavy rains.
"For the past three days, Kwale has recorded three deaths and 681 households affected," she said.
According to a county report, about 1,000 acres of farmland have been destroyed across the county with 860 acres from Ramisi and Vanga in the Lunga-Lunga sub-county.
