Kenya helps Tanzania ferry disaster victims
Kenya's High Commissioner to Tanzania Dan Kazungu with President John Magufuli shortly before he presented a cheque worth Sh.5.5 million to help families of victims of the ferry disaster in Lake Victoria. PHOTO | COURTESY
Kenya has sent Sh5.5 million in donation to help families of Tanzanian victims of the ferry disaster that occured two weeks ago.
The money was channelled through the Foreign Ministry for the the families of more than 200 people who died when a ferry sank of the shores of Lake Victoria late last month.
Kenya's High Commissioner to Tanzania Dan Kazungu presented the money to President John Magufuli this week in Dar es Salaam.
The money, equivalent to Tsh125 million, is part of Kenya's contribution to support survivors and families of victims of MV Nyerere ferry disaster, Mr Kazungu said in a statement.
"Kenyans are standing with their Tanzanian brothers and sisters," he said.
The ferry, said to have been overloaded official sank as it approached the island of Ukerewe in Lake Victoria. It reportedly had only a capacity was 100 people, but might have been carrying more than 400 passengers when it capsized killing 209 people.
It operated on a busy route, crossing eight times a day between the Ukara and Ukwerewe in Mwanza. But like many other vessels in the Lake, overloading and poor safety were never far away.
