Six people drowned in Lake Victoria last Saturday evening when a boat capsized near Arongo beach in Seme Sub County of Kisumu County.
The coxswain and one other person survived the incident and were rushed to Manywanda Hospital for treatment.
Three bodies of those who drowned were retrieved by local divers and fishermen and moved to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) mortuary in Kisumu.
The rescue operation was called off at around 7pm due to darkness and heavy rains in the area.
Confirming the incident, South West Seme location Assistant Chief Shadrach Ochola said the boat had eight people on board at the time of the accident.
Ochola said the eight who had travelled from Nairobi to attend a funeral in the area decided to take a boat ride after laying their loved one to rest.
One of them was taking selfies during the ride, he said tilting the boat before it capsized. None of them had lifesaving jackets, the search for the remaining three bodies is still on.
“We are using fishing gears to try to fish out the remaining bodies. The nets have been cast around the area where the boat capsized which is was approximately 200 meters from the shoreline, “he said.
By Chris Mahandara
