Fishermen on Lake Victoria/FILE
Three fishermen drowned after two groups clashed over a designated fish breeding zone in Madiany, Lake Victoria.
Police said five other fishermen were arrested following the confrontation, which occurred on the night of November 16 near the Luanda Kotieno beach.
The incident began when a group of fishermen from Kajimu Beach in Karachuonyo allegedly encroached on the restricted breeding area.
According to police and the chairman of the Luanda Kotieno Beach Management Unit (BMU), George Owuor Otuoma, the intruders were using illegal fishing gear and refused to vacate the area when confronted.
Otuoma said the Luanda Kotieno patrol team intercepted the group, triggering a scuffle in which the Kajimu fishermen allegedly attacked with crude weapons.
During the altercation, their boat capsized, leading to the drowning of three individuals. One fisherman managed to swim to safety, while five others were rescued by the patrol team.
The rescued fishermen were handed over to police at Aram Police Station and later arraigned at the Madiany Law Courts. They face charges including the use of illegal fishing gear and inciting violence on the lake.
Police said nine fishermen had initially been involved in the illegal fishing activity before being intercepted.
A search was launched, and on Tuesday, the bodies of Washington Odhiambo, Stephen Otieno, and Andrew Obiero were retrieved from the water. Police warned against illegal fishing in the lake.
The bodies were moved to the mortuary pending autopsies and other procedures.
Elsewhere, two guards were attacked and seriously wounded during a robbery at a coffee factory in Chepseon, Kericho County.
Police said a gang stole 77 bags of coffee valued at Sh4 million from the Kichawir Farmers’ Cooperative Society.
The criminals also vandalised security cameras and the CPU containing surveillance data before escaping in the November 17 incident.
The two guards on duty were found tied up and injured inside a store. They reported that about seven men were involved in the robbery, loading the coffee onto a waiting lorry before fleeing.
Police visited the scene and said investigations are ongoing. The guards were admitted to a local hospital in stable condition.
Cases of coffee theft have been on the rise in various parts of the country, prompting police to intensify investigations. Officers noted that many previous incidents remain unsolved but pledged to pursue the criminals behind the latest attack.
