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Four ‘foot-fishermen’ are feared dead after drowning during an illegal fishing mission in Lake Naivasha on Friday evening, following a violent encounter with hippos near the Kalro farm area.
The incident occurred a few kilometres from the Central Landing Beach, where a group of 14 youths from Kihoto Estate had gone fishing along the shores of the lake.
Ten of them managed to swim to safety, while four remain missing and are presumed drowned.
According to Naivasha Deputy County Commissioner Josiah Odongo, the group was attacked by a herd of hippos while fishing illegally near the lake’s breeding grounds.
“A group of youths had travelled to the Kalro area for an illegal fishing mission when they were attacked by the hippos,” said Odongo.
“During the attack, ten of them managed to swim to safety, but four are missing, and we fear that they could have drowned.”
Two of the missing victims are reported to be brothers, a development that has deepened grief and concern within the local community.
Rising Drowning and Wildlife Attacks
Local stakeholders have raised alarm over the increasing cases of drowning and hippo attacks in Lake Naivasha, attributing the trend to risky fishing practices and encroachment into wildlife habitats.
Odongo decried the continued rise in illegal fishing activities along the lake shores, noting that the practice is harming fish stocks and disrupting breeding areas.
He also revealed that some of the youths were allegedly involved in poaching wildlife displaced by the rising water levels of the lake.
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Search and Rescue Underway
Security agencies have launched a coordinated search and rescue operation to locate the missing fishermen.
“Currently, a team led by officers from the Kenya Coast Guard Services, together with local boat operators, is conducting a search and rescue exercise around the scene of the incident,” he said.
The operation is ongoing as families and residents anxiously await updates.
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Tension Between Foot-Fishermen and Licensed Fishers
The incident has also highlighted long-standing tensions between licensed fishermen and so-called foot-fishermen.
One fisherman, who declined to be named for security reasons, accused the group of persistently stealing fish from legitimate operators.
He claimed the foot-fishermen have antagonised licensed fishers over a long period, worsening insecurity and conflicts along the lake.
Authorities have renewed calls for strict enforcement of fishing regulations to prevent further loss of life and protect both livelihoods and wildlife around Lake Naivasha.
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Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Sign in Nairobi. PHOTO/Dreamtime.