A 47 year old fisherman died on the spot after his boat was hit by a hippopotamus at Lake Victoria’s Mikuyu beach, in Homa Bay County.
The deceased identified as Jeremiah Abich Elijah met his death while coming from a fishing expedition at night.
Area Chief John Onyango said that the deceased sustained injuries on the left lower abdomen and deep bites on his right thigh.
He said that efforts by fishermen who were within the vicinity to rescue Abich were futile due to the severity of the injuries and fierceness of the hippo.
Local fishermen at Mikuyu beach lamented that there has been an increase in similar cases of human-wildlife conflict.They appealed for the intervention of Kenya Wildlife Services to help reduce human-wildlife conflict in the lake by strengthening surveillance.
The Beach Management Unit Chairman William Onditi also called upon the Department of Fisheries to conduct surveillance in various beaches within Homa Bay County to ensure that illegal structures on riparian lands are demolished. He added that these structures have increased human-animal conflict within the waters of Lake Victoria.
Homa Bay County Police Commander, Esther Seroney urged fishermen to be cautious whenever they venture into the lake. She said that the body of the deceased was taken to St Camillus Morgue awaiting an autopsy.
By Bwabi Okola and Davis Langat
