Kenyan Authorities Probe Unauthorized Docking of Sh9.7 Billion Foreign Superyacht in Kilifi
A multi-agency security team has intensified investigations into how a luxury foreign yacht docked in Kilifi without following Kenyan maritime procedures, sparking both public curiosity and national security attention.
The vessel, SALT, registered under the British Virgin Islands, arrived from Dubai on Thursday with six passengers and 20 crew members. Its sleek design drew interest from residents as it anchored along the Kilifi coastline — but authorities quickly flagged the docking as unauthorized.
According to reports, the yacht had not been cleared by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), though it received clearance from other agencies, including Immigration, Customs, Port Health, and the Kenya Maritime Authority. Officials described the situation as a serious breach of protocol.
During an inspection led by a joint team from the Kenya Navy, Coast Guard, and Kilifi County security agencies, officers discovered four sniper rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition on board. Some were boxed, others loose.
Kilifi North Deputy County Commissioner Samuel Mutisya chaired a security meeting attended by senior officers, including Regional Police Commander Ali Nuno. The meeting resolved to conduct a full technical verification of the vessel’s documents. Subsequent searches of all four decks found nothing suspicious.
A senior officer involved in the probe, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the passengers were a family on holiday and their nannies who had fallen victim to a rogue local agent.
“They had come for leisure and nothing more. Unfortunately, they fell into the hands of a rogue agent,” the officer said.
Investigators allege the agent deliberately bypassed police notification while securing partial clearance for the yacht.
“He called Immigration, Customs, the hotel — but not the police,” the officer added. “He received USD 11,000 for clearance fees but failed to remit the required USD 6,000 to KPA.”
Authorities have also linked a KPA officer to the incident, alleging the two were in communication throughout the yacht’s arrival.
For now, the passengers have been allowed to proceed with their holiday in Kilifi as the yacht remains anchored pending completion of legal documentation.
The 62-metre SALT, formerly known as Voice, was built by CRN Yachts in 2020 and is valued at around Sh9.7 billion. The incident comes amid renewed efforts by the Ministry of Tourism to promote cruise ship travel along Kenya’s coast, with recent data showing a 163.5 percent surge in cruise tourist arrivals — from 2,490 in 2023 to 6,561 this year.
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Kenyan Authorities Probe Unauthorized Docking of Sh9.7 Billion Foreign Superyacht in Kilifi