The Likoni channel accident victims' bodies where recovered on Friday while in a tight embrace, sources within the recovery team have said.

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Mariam Kighenda and her daughter Amanda Mutheu drowned into Indian Ocean 14 days ago at Likoni channel but the family had to wait for several days before recovery of bodies.

The two were found at the back seat an indication that they could have been trying to sneak through the boot while the car was drowning.

And their painful death of manifested in the manner they embraced as they died, with the mother holding tight her child as they breathed last.

As the corpses were taken away, Likoni OCPD Benjamin Rotich announced that criminal investigations would immediately commence.

“A criminal investigation will be launched tomorrow after the postmortem is conducted,” he told Saturday Standard last evening.

But he appeared to blame the Kenya Ferry Services for not investing in rescue, search and recovery capabilities, Navy boss Levy Mghalu seemed to fire back.

He said lessons must be learnt from the 13-day ordeal and the accident preceding it.

“The operation today has come to an end but we have also learnt a lesson,’’ he said and called on the ferry management and other institutions to invest in divers, vessels and equipment for emergencies like this one.

Governor Hassan Joho and his deputy William Kingi joined Transport Principal Secretary Esther Koimet during the last day of recovery mission which ended successful.