Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has confirmed that security agencies have made contact with a passenger on the boat that went missing earlier this evening in the Tana River.
Here is what we know so far.
Garsen MP Ali Wario Guyo and Galole MP Hiribae Said Buya along with a team of around 20 individuals, including Members of the County Assembly, were reported missing on Saturday, December 2, 2023 after their motorboat failed to return from a food distribution exercise in Tana Delta Sub-County.
How did the boat go missing?
The group departed from Idsowe village at around 10 am to distribute food aid to flood victims in remote areas of the sub-county.
Despite expectations of their boat returning by evening, it did not show up.
Initial concerns arose due to phones being unreachable and a lack of contact.
Tana Delta OCPD Salim Fundi confirmed the reports, prompting an immediate dispatch of a search team to locate the missing boat.
According to the Kenya Red Cross Regional Coordinator, Hassan Musa, the group, including politicians like Kinakomba MCA Hamid Babusa and Garsen North MCA Semi Dumba, reportedly opted for a shortcut to Garsen, potentially encountering rough waters or unfamiliar tributaries.
Video of Ali Wario Guyo Asking for Help
Just as the missing boat cast a long shadow of worry across Tana Delta, a video surfaced online that plunged the situation into stark reality.
Shot in the dead of night, it showed Garsen MP Ali Wario Guyo, his voice laced with desperation, pleading for help, saying that he does not know where they are.
Contact established with a passenger on the boat
At around 11:30pm Saturday night, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki delivered a glimmer of hope amidst the ongoing search for the missing boat in Tana River.
He confirmed that security agencies have managed to establish contact with a passenger on the boat, bringing a collective sigh of relief across the nation.
The passenger, whose identity remains undisclosed, confirmed that all 18 occupants, including MPs Ali Wario Guyo and Hiribae Said Buya, are safe.
While the news of their safety is undoubtedly a cause for celebration, the joy remains incomplete.
The passenger revealed that the boat is stranded at an unknown location.
Authorities, led by the Kenya Coast Guard, are now working tirelessly to locate the stranded boat and bring everyone back safely.
The established contact allows for coordinated efforts, providing crucial updates and guiding the rescue team towards the missing vessel.
Stay tuned to cnyakundi.com for further updates as more information becomes available, especially regarding the location of the stranded boat and the progress of the rescue mission.
