Operations around Lake Naivasha were on Wednesday morning temporarily disrupted after a man was attacked and killed by a hippo.
Efforts by his colleagues to save him by screaming and throwing stones at the animal were unsuccessful. The hippo dragged him into the water near Natures Camp off Moi South Lake road.
In the last couple of months, the number of ‘foot fishermen’ have increased in the lake, forcing the county government to seek services of the coast guards.
Naivasha subcounty fisheries officer Nicholas Kagundu said the man was among a group of youths who were illegally fishing in the lake when the lone hippo attacked.
“We have unfortunately lost another man to a hippo attack and this comes at a time when we are working with the Kenya Coast Guard Service to address cases of illegal fishing,” he said.
Naivasha deputy county commissioner Mutua Kisilu said the arrival of the guards had helped contain the rising cases of illegal fishing.
He said the plans were at an advanced stage to get more patrol boats, which the armed officers would use to man the lake.
“We have identified a parcel of land where the guards will establish a patrol base and this will help address cases of illegal fishing,” Kisilu said.
He said over 20 boats, contraband nets and over 50 suspects had been nabbed in the last one month and taken to court.
Edited by A.N
