2027 MCA Aspirant and Lawyer Sister Drown in Mombasa Boat Accident
A man who had planned to run for an MCA seat in Teso Western Kenya in 2027 and his sister, a lawyer, have drowned after a boat capsized off the Nyali coast in Mombasa County.
The two, identified as Barasa Okomol and his sister Cynthia Barasa, had travelled to the Coast for a short holiday last week. Everything was going well during the vacation until Saturday, when they decided to go into the ocean to view the beautiful ocean scenery.
They paid for a boat ride, and according to accounts, the boat crew did not warn them about the dangerous conditions, despite the huge waves currently experienced along the Coast. Even recently, those waves pushed an entire ferry sideways at Likoni, making it difficult for it to drop off passengers.
While they were far deep in the ocean, the waves overpowered the boat and it capsized.
It appeared the two did not know how to swim, because the other passengers and the boat crew managed to swim to the beach shore. The two were overwhelmed, and by the time help arrived, it was too late.
Their bodies were later brought to the shore by the strong waves.
A Family’s Dream Cut Short
Barasa Okomol had political ambitions, planning to contest for an MCA seat in Western Kenya in the 2027 general election. His sister, a lawyer, had joined him for what was meant to be a relaxing holiday away from their busy schedules.
Their deaths have left friends, relatives, and the wider community devastated.
A Growing Pattern of Ocean Tragedies
The incident adds to a worrying trend of drowning cases along Kenya’s coast, where strong waves and unpredictable currents have claimed several lives in recent weeks. Local authorities and the Coast Guard have repeatedly urged the public to exercise caution around water bodies and to avoid swimming in unsafe conditions.
The boat had two crew members and five local tourists on board. The captain and three tourists were rescued and taken to Coast General Hospital, where they were admitted in stable condition.
Bodies Recovered
The bodies of Ken Barasa, 38, and Cynthia Barasa, 33, were recovered Sunday at the shores of the ocean, a few metres from where the boat capsized, police said.
The vessel had departed for Fort Jesus at around 1:30 pm and capsized at approximately 2:45 pm while on its return journey.
A multi-agency team comprising officers from the Kenya Coast Guard, Kenya Navy, Kenya Police Service, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and members of the public responded to the incident.
Police said one of the survivors managed to swim to the nearest beach and sought help at Kijani Beach, where first responders began the rescue effort. The capsized boat was later towed to Jumeirah Beach, where the bodies washed ashore hours later.
Police Investigation Underway
Police said the incident is pending investigation. Such incidents have, in recent days, been on the rise amid calls on boat riders to be cautious and time their activities to avoid them.
A Community Mourns
The ocean had yet again taken two lives. Friends and relatives were left devastated, with many taking to social media to mourn the two.
This is so sad. Rest well, Barasa Okomol and your sister.