Luxury Yacht Under Probe in Kilifi After Docking Without Clearance

A foreign luxury yacht has come under investigation in Kilifi after docking without proper authorisation and being found with firearms on board.

The vessel, named SALT and registered under the British Virgin Islands flag, arrived off the Kenyan coast last Thursday, attracting public interest with its distinctive design. Authorities later confirmed that the yacht had travelled from Oman to Dubai before reaching Kilifi with six passengers and 20 crew members of various nationalities. 

The passengers included four citizens of Vanuatu and two from the Philippines, while the crew comprised individuals from the United Kingdom, Estonia, South Africa, Poland, Italy, Seychelles and Romania. Although immigration, customs and health officers cleared the vessel, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) had not granted permission for it to dock, making its entry a violation of maritime regulations.

The situation intensified when a joint inspection team discovered four sniper rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition on board. Kenya Navy officers subsequently searched all four decks but found no additional irregularities. Following the discovery, senior security officials, led by Deputy County Commissioner Samuel Mutisya and Regional Police Commander Ali Nuno, held a series of meetings to review the legality of the yacht’s arrival and assess any potential security risks.

Investigators are focusing on the local shipping agent responsible for securing the yacht’s clearance. Preliminary findings suggest the agent bypassed police involvement during the clearance process and may have diverted funds intended for port fees. 

Authorities believe the agent was in contact with a KPA officer throughout the yacht’s voyage, indicating possible collusion. Sources say the passengers, a family travelling with nannies, were likely unaware of these irregularities, and their leisure trip became entangled in the agent’s actions.

Despite the breaches, the passengers and crew have been allowed to remain in Kilifi as authorities work to regularise the vessel’s documentation. The 62-metre superyacht, built in 2020 by CRN Yachts and previously known as Voice, remains docked pending the outcome of the investigation. Valued at approximately Sh9.7 billion, SALT represents the height of private maritime luxury.

The incident occurs as Kenya seeks to expand its cruise tourism sector. Data from the Ministry of Tourism shows cruise passenger arrivals rose sharply to 6,561 in 2024 from 2,490 the previous year, an increase of 163.5 per cent.