Police in Homa Bay is investigating an incident where a fisherman was killed by his colleagues overfishing space in Lake Victoria.
The deceased Michael Juma drowned after his colleagues reportedly attacked him for fishing in their territory.
They engaged in a fistfight on their boats before Juma slipped and drowned.
His body was found on Sunday morning, two days after the incident occurred. Juma was a fisherman at Lala beach in Homa Bay town.
Eyewitnesses said Juma was with four other fishermen on a fishing expedition when they were attacked. Another witness said the attackers were also armed with stones.
They were attacked by fishermen from Mbita, when they were near Ndhuru beach.
“The attackers first hit the boat which Juma was in before beating them with paddles and some wooden rods. They accused Juma and his colleagues of trespass,” one of Juma's friends said.
They urged the county beach management authority to take action and tame rogue fishermen.
“There is no boundary in the lake. We call for the arrest of those who attacked and caused the death of Juma,” the fisherman said.
Speaking to journalists, Homa Bay County Beach Management Unit chairman Edward Oremo condemned the incident saying they have not delineated boundaries in Lake Victoria.
He said BMUs have laws governing them and every fisherman must abide by them.
“We’re liaising with BMU officers in Homa Bay town and Mbita to address the matter. Action will be taken against the culprits,” Oremo said.
Homa Bay subcounty police commander Sammy Koskey confirmed that they have received a report on the incident.
“It is being handled as a murder incident and the culprits will be charged,” Kosekey said.
The body was taken to Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital morgue for postmortem.
