The Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS) has confirmed the successful rescue of 40 people after a passenger vessel capsized off the Kenyan coast on Saturday morning, August 1.
The rescue operation was launched after the agency received a distress call reporting that MV Siri Ya Mafanikio had overturned in waters off Mkondoni due to strong winds and rough sea conditions.
The vessel had departed Shimoni at around 8 a.m. and was headed for Pemba Island with 10 crew members and 30 passengers on board.
40 Rescued After Vessel Capsizes Off Kenyan Coast. Photo: Courtesy.
KCGS personnel from the Shimoni Station responded swiftly to the incident, rescuing all 40 occupants without any fatalities or serious injuries.
Following the rescue, the wreckage of the vessel was towed to the Shimoni Port Zone, where investigators have begun examining the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The Coast Guard said the successful operation highlighted the preparedness of its officers and their commitment to protecting lives at sea through prompt emergency response.
The Shimoni–Pemba route is one of the busiest maritime corridors along the Kenyan coast, serving both passenger and cargo vessels travelling between Kenya and Tanzania’s Pemba Island.
Authorities are expected to continue investigations to establish the exact cause of the capsizing, including whether the vessel was operating within its approved passenger capacity and whether all maritime safety regulations had been observed.
