MOMBASA, Kenya, Oct 12, 2025– Human rights defenders have blamed the Mombasa County Government for what they termed as laxity and poor coordination in handling the Tudor Creek boat tragedy that occurred during the East African Ocean Festival on Friday.
Led by She Rises Executive Director, Salma Hemed, the activists accused the county of failing to provide a swift emergency response and of allowing the international water sports event to proceed without adequate safety measures.
Hemed questioned why such a high-profile event was handled “in such a reckless manner,” saying none of the participants in the dragon boat race had proper safety gear, including life-saving jackets.
“Why were such international water sports activities handled so carelessly? None of the participants had safety gear, including life jackets. Why did it take so long for the victims to receive emergency response after the accident? Who were the organisers who completely ignored safety measures?” Hemed posed.
The activists want the event organisers, led by chairperson Hamisi Mwaguya, held accountable for negligence and called for an immediate investigation into the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
“Those responsible must face the law. Lives were lost because safety protocols were ignored, and the county’s emergency response was too slow,” Hemed added.
The tragedy occurred when a dragon boat carrying 22 participants capsized near the finishing line of the race at Tudor Creek. Nineteen people were rescued, while three others remain missing for the third day, with minimal hopes of finding them alive.
The rights groups said the incident exposed serious gaps in Mombasa County’s disaster preparedness and capacity to handle emergencies during public events.
Mombasa County officials have since defended their response, saying rescue operations involved the Kenya Navy, Kenya Coast Guard Service, and county disaster management officers, who were immediately deployed to the scene.
However, the human rights defenders maintain that the response was delayed and insufficient, demanding a review of safety protocols for future water sports and festivals.
