Homa Bay
Saturday May 18 2024
KNA by Davis Langat
A fisherman has drowned in Lake Victoria early after a ship hit their fishing boat.
Benard Onyango Oketch, a fisherman from Remba Island, Suba West Sub-county in Homa Bay County, tragically drowned while on a fishing expedition at dawn.
According to Homa Bay County Beach Management Network Chairman Edward Oremo, Oketch drowned when a ship hit their boat and the impact of the collision broke the boat, tossing him into the water.
Meanwhile, two other fishermen, who were with Oketch were rescued.
They were treated at Remba Dispensary and discharged.
Oremo said the cargo ship was travelling from Kisumu to Tanzania before it hit the boat.
The Chairman called on the government to assist the fishermen during such incidents.
“There is a need for fishermen to take insurance covers to receive compensation during accidents of this nature,” he added.
Oremo also called on the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) to boost safety measures for fishermen in Lake Victoria.
“Let KMA and other government agencies focus on safety of fishermen when they are fishing in our lake,” Oremo said.
Suba West Police commander Pheobe Mwanzi said they were investigating the incident.
Courtesy: KNA