A search and rescue operation continued in Lamu County after a boat carrying eight crew members capsized in rough sea conditions between Mtangawanda Channel and Lamu Port.
According to the police, the incident occurred on May 20, 2026 at around 21:00 hrs when a vessel identified as Buraq reportedly overturned due to strong winds and tides.
Authorities said the alert was raised via phone by Hajji Babu from the Manda area. One crew member managed to swim to shore after the incident.
Initial rescue efforts by maritime responders and the Kenya Coast Guard Service under the LAPSSET command were hampered by strong eastern winds.
Subsequent operations led to the rescue of three crew members.
However, four crew members remain missing. They have been identified as Abderahman Kassim, Ndoro, Peter Muchiri, and Babu.
Search and rescue teams are continuing operations at sea, with authorities saying further updates will be issued as the mission progresses.
Such incidents are common in the area amid calls for safety measures to be put in place to ensure the crew and other users are always safe.
And a search operation is ongoing in Makueni after a woman was attacked by a crocodile and a young man drowned while attempting to rescue her in River Athi.
According to police, the incident occurred on May 20, 2026 at about 4 pm at Nguumo village in Muambani sub-location, Maluma location, Athi Division in Ikutha Sub-County.
Authorities said 40-year-old Catherine Musenya Katili was fetching water from River Athi when she was attacked by a crocodile.
In an attempt to save her, 22-year-old Kyumbu Makau from Nzeveni village reportedly dived into the river but drowned during the rescue effort.
A joint search and rescue mission involving officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Police Service, Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Kenya Red Cross, Makueni County rescue team, local administrators and residents was launched on Wednesday evening but was suspended after darkness fell without recovering the bodies.
The operation resumed on Thursday, but by the time of the report, the bodies of the two victims had not yet been retrieved. Authorities said search efforts were continuing.
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