Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia has broken his silence, 72 hours after a mother and daughter drowned in the Indian Ocean, an incident that has left Kenyans furious.
On Wednesday, Mr Macharia appointed Transport Principal Secretary Esther Koimet to lead recovery of the two bodies from deep waters of Likoni channel.
Mrs Mariam Kighenda and her daughter Amanda Mutheu drowned into the ocean when getting into the ferry on Sunday evening.
Operations of the ferries across the busy Likoni channel were on Wednesday briefly suspended to allow divers retrieve the bodies.
Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) chairman Dan Mwazo said operations would be put on hold from 9am to 12 noon.
On Tuesday, services were halted for 30 minutes for divers to map out the crossing.
“We have identified a vessel at 75 feet deep and another at 135 feet. A team led by Kenya Navy officers will attempt to get to first vessel,” KFS Managing Director Bakari Gowa said.
Mombasa Governor Ali Joho for the first time also sent his condolences to the affected families on Wednesday. KFS is under the National Government.
"It has been a painful wait for the family and relatives of Mariam Kighenda and her daughter as rescue operations intensify at the Likoni Channel.
"We understand the complexity of the search operations being the reason for the delay, and therefore we are asking for patience. We are part of the multi-agency team involved in the search operations,” Mr Joho said.