Homa Bay,
Thursday May 9 2024,
KNA by Davis Langat
Two fishermen drowned Tuesday evening in Lake Victoria’s Uwi beach, Mbita Sub County under unclear circumstances.
According to the local Chief Charles Ngoe, the two fishermen identified as Enock Opiyo, 25, and Duncan Okoth, 40, drowned following confrontation between two groups over fishing grounds.
Chief Ngoe said the two were in company of other fishermen who hail from Uwi beach before a confrontation broke out with another group of fishermen from Koginga beach in the neighboring Homa Bay Sub-county.
He said preliminary investigations revealed that trouble began when the fishermen of Uwi beach saw their colleagues of Koginga beach fishing in their territory which they had set aside for breeding of young fish.
“The fishermen of Uwi beach were accusing their colleagues of fishing in an area which is not meant for fishing. The area had been preserved for young fish to grow,” said Ngoe adding the disagreement degenerated to physical fighting.
He said it was during the commotion that one of the boats from Koginga beach hit the boat from Uwi beach that carried five fishermen.
“A boat from Koginga beach hit the patrol boat from Uwi beach, leading to drowning of the two fishermen. Three fishermen who were in the same boat survived,” Ngoe said.
The search for the bodies of the duo was ongoing Wednesday for the better part of the day.
“Let fishermen stop taking the law into their hands because there are laws which govern fishing. They should maintain order when fishing,” Ngoe said.
Courtesy of KNA
