Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has directed that all future sea events in the county must receive mandatory clearance from the County Security Committee. The move follows the tragic MV Dragon incident at Tudor Watersports, which claimed three lives during the East African Ocean Festival last Friday.
Governor Nassir confirmed the new directive on Monday after a final debrief with a multi-agency rescue team comprising the Kenya Navy, Kenya Coast Guard Service, county officials, and local leaders. The governor stated that the Kenya Coast Guard will investigate the incident and publish a comprehensive report on the findings.
“We commend all officers and volunteers who worked tirelessly. Going forward, sea events will require clearance by the County Security Committee, and the Kenya Coast Guard will investigate and publish its findings,” Nassir said.
The tragedy exposed glaring safety and security gaps in Mombasa’s maritime sector, despite the city’s status as Kenya’s leading coastal tourism destination. Thousands of visitors frequent the area for sea excursions and water sports, yet most beaches lack standby lifeguards — a situation the governor termed unacceptable.
To improve safety, Nassir announced that the county government will recruit trained lifeguards from local Beach Management Units (BMUs) to enhance disaster preparedness and emergency response.
“We will also recruit lifeguards from our Beach Management Units to boost disaster preparedness. May the departed rest in peace,” he added.
The MV Dragon tragedy occurred when a boat carrying 22 passengers capsized at Tudor Creek. Nineteen people were rescued by the Kenya Navy, while three others perished. Among those recovered were Caleb Atieno, 21, and Steven Karembo, 23, whose bodies were retrieved on October 12 and 13, respectively.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki visited the rescue command centre on Sunday to monitor the ongoing recovery efforts and pledged government support in strengthening maritime safety along the Kenyan coast.
