The government has immediately suspended operations of private speed boats at the flooded Kona Punda area in Tana River following the tragic accident that occurred on Sunday.
Tana River Deputy County Commissioner Andrew Mutua, speaking to the press after touring the Kona Punda area where the search and rescue team is camping, stated that stern action would be taken against anyone found defying the order.
Three bodies were retrieved by the search team on Monday morning as they continued to search for more. On Sunday, the team rescued 22 people while 23 are still missing from the boat that had close to 45 people on board.
“I want to make it very clear that no boat will be allowed to ferry passengers either to or from Garissa until we give another communication on the same,” he said. “The only boats that will be allowed are the ones which are searching for bodies or survivors. Anybody else who defies the order will have themselves to blame.”
The DCC, accompanied by Tana River Deputy Governor Mahat Loka and the county security team, stated that the government was pursuing the owner of the boat that capsized as he was still at large.
He further disclosed that the security apparatus were still looking for the rider of the boat at the time of the incident, with reports suggesting that he might have fled.
