Two women die as boat carrying tourists capsizes off Watamu

Two women died after a tourist boat capsized off Watamu, officials said. The incident occurred on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at about 4:30 p.m., during a return journey to Watamu Beach when strong ocean waves hit the vessel and it overturned. On board were tourists, tour guides, and crew members, including six Italian tourists staying at a hotel from August 22 to September 1, plus five local tourists and three tour guides, along with two crew members. Rescuers—local community divers—recovered everyone, but two women identified as Alice Wambui, 35, and guide Janira Sarah, 26, were found unconscious and pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.