Miguna slams Kenya Navy over Likoni Ferry tragedy

Lawyer Miguna Miguna on Tuesday hit out at the Kenya Navy for their slow response after a car slipped from a ferry and plunged into the sea a few days ago.

The bodies are yet to be retrieved and Miguna blamed this on unpreparedness and incompetence.

He also took issue with some of the boats they were using across the channel, describing them as ‘15th-century Malaba-made wooden boats.’

“Does Kenya have a real Navy? Are these civilians on a 15th Century wooden boat made in Malaba with no diving gear and no amphibian equipment our Navy?

“The tragedy in Likoni could have been averted if we had competent, well-equipped Navy or Rescue Services,” said Miguna.

On Wednesday, the Kenya Ferry Services temporarily suspended ferry operations for two hours at the Likoni channel as divers attempted to retrieve the bodies of the victims.

It is believed that the area where the car sunk is around 60m deep.

Members of Parliament yesterday called for heads to roll following the disaster and the delayed recovery response following the incident.

On the spot are Managing Director of Kenya Ferry Services Bakari Gowa and Navy Commander Major General Franklin Mghalu, whose men failed to respond despite being stationed a few metres from the scene of the incident, and Kenya Coast Guard Director General Brigadier Vincent Loonena whose department should have been on standby for search and rescue operations.