Three Homa Bay fishermen die in Lake Victoria

 

Three fishermen were confirmed to have died in the past three days in different ways during operations in Lake Victoria within Homa Bay County.

Moses Ngigi died on Sunday evening at Uyoga Beach in Suba North constituency after he reportedly slipped into the lake when he went to bathe.

He was unable to swim, causing his instant death. His fellow fishermen searched for the body and retrieved him some hours later.

His body was moved to MED 25 Kirindo mortuary.

This occurred after two other fishermen Paul Otieno and George Otieno drowned in the lake on Friday.

Paul who operates at Sare Beach in Suba South drowned when he was going to Nyatike to look for baits used for fishing.

He slipped from his boat into the lake. Efforts of his fellow fishermen to rescue him proved futile.

His body disappeared in the water before being retrieved on Saturday. The body was moved to the Manyatta Kobodo mortuary.

George drowned at Osiri Beach in the Suba South constituency. He drowned when he slipped from a boat during a fishing expedition with his colleagues.

His body was moved to the Sindo Sub-county hospital mortuary.

Homa Bay County Beach Management Network Chairman Edward Oremo urged the Kenya Coastguard Service to intensify safety measures compliance.

He said there is a dire need to intensify the security of fishermen in the lake.

“We cannot compromise safety in Lake Victoria. Losing three fishermen in such a short time is very sad,” Oremo said.

He also urged the Kenya Maritime Authority and Homa Bay government to consider establishing rescue centres for fishermen in the lake.

Oremo said the lives of many fishermen who had drowned in the lake would have been saved if the centres were established.

The chairman asked for safety measures to be intensified in Lake Victoria following the loss of lives of fishermen.

“Some of our colleagues who died would have been saved should we had rescue centres,” Oremo said.

He directed all chairmen of all beaches in the county to restrain fishermen who go to fish in the lake without putting on life jackets.

“Let all our beach management unit chairmen ensure that any fisherman who goes into the lake puts on a life jacket,” Oremo added.

by ROBERT OMOLLO