Kenya Navy divers retrieve car, body of man who plunged into Indian Ocean

NAIROBI, Kenya - In what could attack praises from Kenyans and the state, a multi-agency team under Kenya Navy managed to retrieve a body of a man who plunged into the Indian Ocean.

Kenya Ferry Services (KFS), the body which runs operations at the Port of Mombasa, confirmed retrieval of the body on Saturday afternoon.

The victim, KFS said, was taken to Coast General Hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy and subsequent burial. He was identified as John Mutinda.

"The body of the driver of the Likoni I'll fate car (Reg. KAX 474B) the late John mutinda has been taken to Coast General Hospital Mortuary by Ferry police vehicle," KFS posted on Facebook.

"The recovery exercise is being done by a combined team of Kenya Coast Guard Service, The Kenya Navy, and our rescue team," it added in acknowledgment to the team that conducted the exercise.

Bakari Gowa, the KFS Managing Director, told the media that the victim "ignored the order by our security team and drove on the wrong side before plunging into the ocean".

The victim said to have been evading payment of ferry services when he does off. The incident took place along deep-sea waters of Likoni Channel.

Incidentally, the accident takes place two months after another vehicle plunged almost on the same spot, causing a national outcry.

Marianne Kighenda, 35 and her daughter Amanda Mutheu perished on the spot. It took Kenya Navy and South African divers 13 days to retrieve the bodies.

But the Saturday's accident didn't take much time, a move that could be a huge reprieve to KFS and the Kenya Defense Forces, Navy personnel.

Gowa added: "We have located the maroon vehicle just 6 meters down the sea. It won't take much time before we pull it out."

And true to his words, the vehicle was pulled out minutes past 12pm local time. It has been towed to Likoni Police station for further investigations.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho asked ferry users and the management to be extremely cautious to avert recurrence of such calamities.

"In the meantime, I urge ferry users and management to be cautious. We can not afford to have any more casualties in similar situations," Joho tweeted.

The September tragedy irked President Uhuru Kenyatta, forcing him to disband the Kenya Ferry Services board. The former team is also facing criminal charges.

Kenya Navy's main base is located at Mtongwe, a few meters from where the accident occurred. The naval team has often fought criticism of non-responsiveness.

GAROWE ONLINE