A quick response by the Kenya Coast Guard Service helped save a man who jumped overboard from a ferry in the Likoni Channel on Saturday evening.

The rescue took place at the busy crossing point in Mombasa, where Coast Guard officers at the Kilindini Station worked with members of the public to pull the man from the water. He was brought back to shore alive and in stable condition.

In a statement shared on X on Sunday, May 10, 2026, the Kenya Coast Guard Service said:

“RESCUE OPERATION | Kenya Coast Guard Service – Kilindini Station, working alongside members of the public, successfully rescued an individual who jumped overboard from a ferry vessel in the Likoni Channel yesterday,” Kenya Coast Guard said.

The agency added that the man was later handed over to the relevant authorities for further handling.

“The individual was brought to safety and handed over to the relevant authorities in stable condition,” the Coast Guard said. It confirmed that investigations are ongoing to establish what led to the incident.

Officials have not yet said why the man jumped into the water or whether foul play was involved.

The Likoni Channel is one of the busiest ferry crossings in Kenya, linking Mombasa Island to the south coast. Incidents involving passengers falling or jumping into the water are rare but often require fast emergency response due to strong currents and heavy ferry traffic.

Rising coastal safety concerns

The rescue comes at a time when maritime safety has come under focus after a separate accident in Lamu County on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

In that incident, two boats collided at Kilindi in Lamu, leaving 14 people injured and four in critical condition. The Kenya Red Cross said its teams responded quickly and worked with local divers and community responders to assist victims.

“A boat capsize incident involving a collision between two boats carrying 19 people occurred this morning at Kilindi, Lamu County,” the Kenya Red Cross said. It added: “Four critically injured casualties were evacuated to King Fahad Hospital, while 14 people with minor injuries were attended to at the scene.”

The Lamu accident highlighted ongoing risks in Kenya’s coastal waters, where many residents depend on boats for daily transport. Authorities have previously linked such incidents to overcrowding, poor visibility, and weak enforcement of safety rules.