A fisherman from Uhanya beach in Bondo sub-county drowned in Lake Victoria after their boat was hit by a hippopotamus Tuesday morning.
The deceased identified as Yonah Odhiambo is said to have been in the boat with four other colleagues when the incident occurred.
According to the chairman of Uhanya Beach Management Unit Mr. Peter Opado Ogutu, the fishermen were on their way back to the beach after fishing overnight in the lake when the boat was hit by the hippo, destabilizing it and resulting in three out of the five fishermen tripping into the lake.
Two of the three managed to swim and stay afloat till they were rescued and brought back to the boat as Odhiambo got overwhelmed by waves and drowned.
The BMU chairman stated that the search for the body bore no fruits by end of yesterday but added there is hope it would be found as it is expected to float today.
Mr. Opado told KNA that the hippo menace has been a great challenge to fishermen from the area, noting that they have on numerous occasions appealed for the government intervention in vain.
He lamented that hippo attacks have been rampant in the region and pleaded with the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) to step in and save the situation.
