Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has called on boat owners and operators to exercise extreme caution when using the vessels during this season when the country is experiencing heavy rains and floods.

In a statement, Mvurya called on passengers and operators to ensure they wear life jackets when using the vessels among other measures.

"The safety of persons using water transport remains the Government's top priority and we advise boat owners, operators, passengers, fisher folks and the general public to take safety measures" said Mvurya.

Other measures highlighted by the CS includes monitoring of the weather, vessel maintenance, monitoring of water levels, avoiding overloading, preparing for emergency,, navigating safely and communicating to authorities and emergency teams promptly.

This comes just a day after capsized in  Tana River county.

According to witnesses, the boat which had more than 40 passengers on board was on its way to Garissa from Madogo where it had picked up the passengers.

22 individuals were successfully rescued. with three bodies retrieved by Monday morning.