Mombasa authorities recovered two bodies following a deadly boat racing accident during the East African Oceanic Festival at Tudor on Friday, October 10, 2025.
Three participants went missing during the event, and as of Saturday, only two had been found.
Police confirmed that the victims were among 22 people taking part in the race. Nineteen participants were rescued, while a coordinated operation involving county and national agencies continued in search of the third missing person.
Mombasa County Police Commander Peter Kimani said, “All efforts are being coordinated to ensure the remaining body is retrieved.”
Nine teams had taken part in the competition, including Kenya Navy, Coast Guard, Maritime, Tourist Police, Kijiweni Youth Group, Mudhuba, BMU Mushomoroni, Bandari, TUMW, and Burhani Sports. Witnesses said the event had reached the knockout stage when the accident occurred.
The three teams involved in the incident were Burhani, Kijiweni Youth, and Tourist Police. Reports indicate that while nearing the finish line, members of the Kijiweni Youth group stood up in the moving boat, causing it to tip over.
This led to three participants drowning while the rest were rescued.
It took several hours to recover the two bodies, with the search for the third continuing into Saturday.
Commander Kimani emphasized that, with the festive season approaching, extra safety measures have been put in place to protect both residents and visitors.