Mombasa County has clarified that it played no role in the East African Oceanic Festival held at Tudor Creek last week, which ended in tragedy with three people losing their lives.
The event, organised independently, is now under investigation by multiple agencies for possible safety failures and violations of regulations.
Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said the county had only supported the festival when it began in 2024, and this year’s edition did not involve the county in any way.
“We were not part of the event. We embrace such recreational activities, but this particular one was not coordinated with the county. No permits were issued. Deputy Governor Francis Thoya was invited but, in his wisdom, did not attend,” he explained on Monday.
He added that the Kenya Coast Guard Service and Kenya Maritime Authority are reviewing whether the vessels were safe for use and if the participants had life jackets. “That will be determined by the regulators,” Nassir said.
The comments came after authorities recovered two of the three missing victims on Monday morning, following a four-day search operation. A third body had been retrieved on Sunday evening.
The tragedy occurred on Friday during a boat racing competition when one of the vessels carrying 22 participants capsized under circumstances that are still unclear.
Nineteen competitors were rescued, while three went missing. The victims were identified as Steven Karembo, Tom Wanyonyi, and Caleb Otieno, with their bodies found between Nyali Bridge and the Jahazi Marine area.
“One body was found closer to the accident site, while the other two drifted further away,” Nassir said.
The remains were identified by relatives and moved to the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary after police processing.
Nassir described the rescue mission as one of the largest disaster responses in recent Mombasa history, comparable to the 2019 Likoni ferry tragedy.
The operation involved 14 boats and 250 officers from the Kenya Coast Guard Service, Kenya Maritime Authority, Kenya Red Cross, and several Beach Management Units.
“It has been a tough few days. Emotions have been high at the scene, but I want to thank everyone who took part, especially the BMUs who assisted in retrieving the victims,” he said.
The governor confirmed that both the county and national government will assist the families with funeral arrangements.