Likoni Ferry tragedy victims Mariam Kigenda and Amanda Mutheu were on Friday, October 11, honoured by the military after their bodies were retrieved from the Indian Ocean.
In a ceremony on live TV, the military stood at the point where the car was pulled out from and gave their last respects to the deceased.
They also played the trumpet as Mombasa citizens led by Governor Hassan Joho observed silence.
The crowd was also led in prayer by Anglican bishops and local Imams from the area with a rim of flowers being thrown into the sea.
Joho was handed the second batch of flowers which he threw into the sea after Navy Commander Major General Franklin Mghalu had thrown the first one.
Friends and family were given the opportunity to throw their flowers into the ocean afterwards in honour of the departed souls.
Family spokesperson Luka Mbati spoke at the scene and disclosed that the family was now satisfied with the retrieval process as they had gotten the bodies of their loved ones.
“We already have plans for the funeral and will hold another ceremony at home before burial,” Mbati confirmed.
He also narrated that they had waited for long to finally get the two bodies that drowned in the Ocean on Sunday, September 29.
The bodies were retrieved after 13 days of continuous search with deep-sea divers from South Africa and Sweden.
A search team comprising of volunteer divers and the Kenya Red cross led by the Kenya Navy retrieved the wrecked car and bodies of the victims on Friday, October 11, 2019. This is despite spotting the car two days prior.
The car was located 59 meters deep into the dark, debris-filled and shark-infested Likoni channel.
