Families of Mombasa Boat Tragedy Victims Demand Compensation

By George Otieno

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Families of three people who drowned during the East Africa Ocean Festival (TEOF) in Tudor, Mombasa are demanding for justice and compensation from the event organizers, three months after the tragic incident.

The victims Caleb Otieno, Stephen Karembo, and Thomas Wanyonyi lost their lives when a boat they were using capsized at Tudor Creek during a competition held on October 10, 2925.

Their families say they have received no support or consolation from the organizers since the tragedy.

Ziro Karembo, a brother to the late Stephen Karembo, said his brother was the sole breadwinner and left behind a widow and a young child who are now struggling to survive.

“We were promised assistance, including jobs, but nothing has come forth. We are ready to talk to the organizers. What we want is justice through compensation,” said Ziro.

Jemima Akinyi, the mother of 21-year-old Caleb Otieno, said the family has never been contacted by the event organizers since they buried her son on November 1, 2025.

“I have never seen any consolation from the people who organized the event. We are suffering because our son never got justice,” she said.

Akinyi added that Otieno left behind a 20-year-old widow and a four-month-old child.

“These are young families. They are sleeping hungry. We are pleading with those responsible to ensure justice is served,” she said.

She explained that her son participated in the competition after being told there was prize money to be won.

“They were jobless, that is why they went for the competition,” she added.

Lydia Nyange, the mother of the late Thomas Nyongesa Wanyonyi, said her son was the last-born and the family’s only breadwinner.

She said she raised him through hardship after her husband abandoned the family when Wanyonyi was four years old.

“My son was not given safety gear before going into the Indian Ocean. That was injustice. If they had safety gear, they would not have died. I have been left with nothing, and I want compensation,” she said.

One of the 19 survivors, Alex Okumu, said he narrowly escaped death and accused the organizers of negligence.

“There was clear negligence. The organizers have never called a meeting with the families since the tragedy. They keep promising meetings, but nothing happens. We are in pain,” said Okumu.

The tragedy has attracted the attention of human rights organizations, which have offered free legal aid to the affected families.

Haki Africa executive director Yusuf Abubakar said preliminary investigations indicate serious safety lapses during the event.

“There was safety negligence during that event, and someone must take responsibility. Compensation should be offered to those who lost their loved ones and those who survived but were affected,” he said.

The director added that if the organizers fail to resolve the matter amicably, legal action will be taken.

“They only contacted the families after learning of our intention to go to court. If they fail to honour their promises, we will proceed with legal action.”

The founders and organizers of TEOF have yet to publicly announce any compensation plan as the affected families continue to struggle following the loss of their breadwinners.