Boat transport in Garissa, Tana River halted as 15 still missing from Kona Punda tragedy

Grief, sorrow and a sense of emptiness struck the families who lost their kin on Sunday evening on a boat that capsized in the Kona Punda area in Tana River County.

Bags and personal effects were retrieved, revealing the identities of those still missing.

Four bodies have so far been retrieved from the raging waters as the search for more bodies continues.

Ibrahim Mohamed Bathi's family is grieving but also counting their blessings.  Ibrahim is among the four confirmed dead after his family identified his body. 

He was on the boat with his four children who are lucky to be alive.

A report at the Madogo police station shows 23 people were rescued from the incident while 15 are missing. 

Leaders from Tana River and Garissa now say greed caused the disaster.

“One particular person is to be blamed; he was not licensed, and he brought some two boats from Lamu, without any regard for their safety, overloading people. It is very unfortunate, no life jackets, no trained personnel,” said Garissa Governor Nadhif Jama.

Following the incident movement has been restricted to essential personnel only.

The hope of finding the missing persons alive is slowly fading more than 24 hours later, but their families are keeping hope alive.