Four fishermen who had been missing for 17 days after their boat allegedly capsized in the Indian Ocean have been found alive.
According to one of the fishermen, they were hit by a storm on December 9 while at the ocean after their boat ran out of fuel.
The boat, the fishermen said, began sailing with the wind and drifted into a direction that they were not aware of.
According to Citizen TV, the boat capsized in Ziwayu, Kilifi County.
The captain of the boat Malik Mbwana claimed he together with his colleagues were forced to survive on salty water and raw fish.
"When went to the ocean, we were met with problems, first there was heavy wind and storm, and then our boat ran out of fuel. So we did not know where we were going. On the second day, we woke up not knowing where we were without food or water on the boat. (Kwenda baharini kukatokea matatizo ya upepo mwingi na mivua. Na mafuta ikatuishia baharini. Hatukujua tunaenda wapi. Siku yake ya pili tukiinuka tukiwa hatujui tuko wapi, hatuna maji kwa boti wala hatuna chakula)," Mbwana told Citizen TV.
He said they met with the Kenya Navy officers while stranded at the ocean but the officers refused to offer them help.
"On a ninth day, we met with the Navy who were at the ocean. We called them and asked for help so that at least we could also get food or water. But they refused to give us. We even pleaded for water alone but they denied us, yet our only hope at the ocean was the Kenya Navy to help us. (Siku ya tisa yake hapo ndio tukapatana na Navy ambaye yuko baharini ndio msaada wetu wa bahrini tukawaita watusaidie tupate na sisi chakula au maji. Lakini wakakataa kutupatia. Mpaka tukawaomba maji pekee yake wakakataa pia kutupatia, na msaada wetu baharini sisi ni Kenya Navy ndio waweze kutusaidia)," Mbwana narrated.
Lucky enough for the fishermen, they found themselves near Ngomeni village after 17 days.
The fishermen were rushed to the hospital for medical checkup and treatment after they were found.