Despite Friday's recovery of Mariam Kighenda and Amanda Mutheu's bodies, all was not well throughout the 13-day mission, a source told the Saturday Nation.
For almost two weeks, the family of the victims waited eagerly for the recovery of the bodies, with Kenya Defense Forces's Navy team supervising the exercise.
But a source privy to the intrigues and politics surrounding the recovery says Kenya Navy divers were not serious at first with recovery of the bodies, only diving for few minutes to show something was being done.
However, the decision by the family to hire private divers from South Africa changed their attitude. Governor Ali Joho had given Sh2 million for private divers.
“It was when the family showed seriousness in getting private divers that the operation became serious,” said the official.
Multiple sources revealed that at first no planning meetings were held.
“What we were going for was just like a breakfast meeting where we shared information on locations that we had found using our machines,” said one of source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
At no time did divers from the Kenya Navy, Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and the county government plan the exercise together.
“The Kenya Navy was commanding everything, leaving out the others, and that’s why Musa (a local diver) pulled out because he was frustrated,” said our source.
Though the Kenya Navy lacked the appropriate equipment, “they wanted to be seen as the ones doing everything and did not want to recognise efforts by the other agencies, thus frustrating them,” the source said.
The South African divers are said to have stormed out of the country on Wednesday after spotting the vehicle. But despite that, spokesman Cyrus Oguna insisted that it's Navy divers who located the vehicle.
Navy Commander Levy Mghalu on Friday seemed to be blaming government agencies over the accident, arguing that Kenya Ferry Services and KPA should do regular inspections.
According to Oguna, assistance from other team members was important but it's Navy which supervised the mission. The vehicle was spotted on Wednesday.
"We have been having a government multi-agency which involves Kenya Navy, Kenya Ferry Services among others. The entire team is led by Kenya Navy under Col Lawrence Gituma.
"Those who were leading and had divers were Kenya Navy. Some helped us with cameras but it's Kenya Navy that spotted the vehicle. We are not saying that others didn't contribute but without divers, we wouldn't have made the progress," he said.