Mtongwe ferry disaster survivors demand Sh15m
One of the 1994 Mtongwe ferry tragedy survivors, Mr Abdallah Mwalimu Ali, prays during the 13th anniversary of the tragedy at the Mtongwe jetty yesterday. Some of the survivors said they had not been fully compensated although their cases had been concluded.
Survivors of the Mtongwe ferry disaster and families of the victims have asked the Government to release more than Sh15 million it owes them in compensation.
One of the 1994 Mtongwe ferry tragedy survivors, Mr Abdallah Mwalimu Ali, prays during the 13th anniversary of the tragedy at the Mtongwe jetty yesterday. Some of the survivors said they had not been fully compensated although their cases had been concluded. Photo/GIDEON MAUNDU
While some survivors of the April 29, 1994 accident said they were paid less than half of their entitlement, those whose cases have not been concluded accused the Government for neglecting them.
They spoke at the Mtongwe ferry jetty yesterday during the 13th anniversary to mark the disaster that claimed 170 lives.
Some survivors said they had been short-changed and wondered why the Government had not intervened to resolve their cases 13 years after the tragedy.
Ms Bihija Mwajuma, who lost her daughter and son-in-law in the accident, said she had not been paid even a penny.
“I was left with their four children. They were later taken by their father’s relatives,” she said.
Mr Mwinyi Abdalla said he had been paid only Sh110,000 yet the schedule of payment released by the Kenya Ferry Services indicated that he was entitled to Sh243,500.
“My 17-year-old daughter perished in the tragedy yet this is the way I am being treated.
“It is unfair,” he said, showing copies the cheque he got and the schedule of payment.
But some survivors whose cases are still going on in court, claimed that their files had gone missing while their lawyers acted in total disregard of their human rights.
Mr Dickson Ochiego, whose brother, Mr Josphat Okello, died in the accident, said he had been paid “very little money”.
For more than a month, the Mtongwe ferry services have been suspended due to lack of a proper vessel to run the services.
“We are appealing to the government to come to the aid of Mtongwe residents who walk to their places of work,” said Ms Mishi Juma.
While blaming the Government for neglecting the families of victims and survivors, Seafarers Assistance Programme coordinator Andrew Mwangura asked authorities to speed up processing of compensation claims.
On Saturday, Kenya Ferry Services public relations officer Adonija Baraza, said the company had released over Sh35 million to 148 victims whose cases had been completed.
According to him, the company needed about Sh15 million to pay 58 of the remaining 71 cases which had already been concluded.
