PHOTOS: Likoni ferry victims Mariam Kigenda, daughter Amanda buried

A sombre mood engulfed Mung’ala village, Makueni County as the two victims of the Likoni ferry tragedy Mariam Kigenda and four-year-old Amanda Mutheu were laid to rest.

Leaders from across the political divide joined family and friends at the AIC Kima grounds for the funeral service.

Among leaders present include Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, his deputy Adelina Mwau, Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, Makueni Member of Parliament Dan Maanzo and former MP Reginah Ndambuki.

Their bodies were picked from Jocham Hospital mortuary in Mombasa where had been preserved after they were recovered from the ocean ahead of the burial.

Post mortem reports also revealed that the two died from suffocation.

The car that had the bodies of Mariam and Amanda was retrieved from the Likoni channel 13 days after it had plunged.

The long recovery operation executed by a multi agency team that incorporated the Kenya Navy, private entities from South Africa and divers from Denmark was marked by numerous delays.

This they said owed to the heavy rains, poor visibility under water and strong undercurrents in the sea that made it difficult for the recovery team to make any progress.

The period was also marked by public outrage as Kenyans demanded for answers on who was responsible for the incident piling pressure on the government to take action.

President Uhuru Kenyatta in a statement over the incident assured the family that they would make every effort to ensure no such incident occurs again.

Some of the measures outlined by the President include building a bridge across the Likoni channel and building the Dongo Kundu bypass to ease movement between South Coast and Mombasa Island.

Ealier in the week, President Kenyatta sacked the entire Kenya ferry Services board led by the chairperson, former Taita Taveta senator Dan Mwazo following the ferry incident.

The ill-fated car was the last to board MV Harambee ferry on Sunday, September 29, 2019.

It is alleged that the car reversed when the ferry was midstream, plunging the car into the ocean.