A man identified as Akida Iddi Mohammed could not stop tears from streaming following being rescued after spending 22 days in the Indian Ocean.
Akida, aged 29 was in a boat, with three other fishermen, that capsized in the Indian Ocean.
“Alhamdulillah!” He exclaimed stepping out of the Kenya Coast Guard Service ship MV Doria.
“I just want to go home and be reunited with my family. It was the most traumatising ordeal,” he said.
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“I do not know how we stayed alive for the 22 days,” he added. Akida was taken to the Coast General and Referral Hospital by a team of Kenya Redcross Society officers.
Three out of the four who were in the boat were rescued. Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya said that investigations as to how they ended up in the foreign fishing vessel.
“We have received three among the four fishermen who got lost in the Indian Ocean 22 days ago,” says the CS.
“They are safe, but we are still searching for their colleague. I also want to praise our maritime security agencies and all the stakeholders who were involved in the rescue operations.”
He assured the three together with their families that they would undergo counselling.
CS Mvurya urged fishermen to take extra precaution in order to avoid instances when vessels drift away from the shore.
“My ministry will also enhance its resolve to continously create awareness and empower coxswains to ensure they have basic safety as they venture into the sea.”
