Nassir Orders Coastwide Vessel Inspections After Fatal Boat Accident
The inspections will examine the physical condition of boats, maintenance records and the availability of essential safety equipment.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has directed authorities to conduct immediate inspections of vessels carrying passengers along the Kenyan Coast following a boat accident that left two people dead.
The directive was issued after a leisure boat capsized in Tudor Creek on Saturday evening after encountering strong waves. Five people were rescued during the emergency response, while two adults who had initially been listed as missing were later found dead near Nyali Beach on Sunday.
Nassir said he had engaged the Kenya Maritime Authority to begin comprehensive inspections aimed at establishing whether passenger vessels operating along the coastline meet required safety standards.
“I have engaged the Kenya Maritime Authority to undertake immediate and rigorous inspections of the seaworthiness of all vessels ferrying members of the public along our coastline,” Nassir said.
The inspections will examine the physical condition of boats, maintenance records and the availability of essential safety equipment. Authorities will also assess whether operators are complying with maritime regulations governing the transportation of passengers.
The governor further directed boat operators to check weather forecasts and official marine advisories before taking passengers to sea. He insisted that passengers should be provided with life jackets and wear them throughout their journeys.
The measures come as the Coast prepares for potentially heavy rainfall during the October to December season. Mombasa and other coastal counties have been placed under close observation because of the risk of flooding in low-lying settlements.
Kilifi, Kwale and Lamu are also expected to experience rainfall during the season, while Tana River remains vulnerable to flooding caused by water flowing downstream from areas receiving heavy rains.
Nassir visited Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital following the accident, where he conveyed his condolences to relatives of the two people who died.
He warned residents and marine operators to exercise greater caution as weather conditions become unpredictable.
“The current El Niño phenomenon is more severe than those previously experienced, and the public must exercise exceptional caution when undertaking any activity at sea,” he said.
The governor urged operators to ensure their vessels are regularly serviced and equipped with appropriate emergency gear before carrying passengers.
He also cautioned operators against putting commercial interests ahead of passenger safety, particularly when weather conditions deteriorate.
Nassir praised the County Marine Rescue Unit, lifeguards drawn from local Beach Management Units, the Kenya Coast Guard Service and other emergency teams for responding to the accident.
He said the rescue operation demonstrated the importance of having trained personnel and properly equipped emergency teams along the coastline.
“No commercial or recreational activity should ever take precedence over human life,” Nassir said.
The county government’s inspection order is expected to increase scrutiny of passenger boats and other vessels operating in coastal waters as authorities prepare for the coming rainy season.
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