Three fishermen drown in Lake Naivasha after boat capsizes

Divers search for the bodies of three fishermen who drowned while on a fishing mission in Lake Naivasha on Wednesday night. Three other fishermen were rescued after spending over 12 hours in the lake. [PHOTO/Antony Gitonga/STANDARD]

A fishing expedition in Lake Naivasha ended on a sour note after three fishermen drowned after their boat capsized.

Three of their colleagues were rescued twelve hours later from the troubled lake after spending the night in the cold waters.

The death brought to twelve the number of people mainly fishermen and poachers who have drowned in the lake this year.

Emotions ran high at the Karagita landing beach where the deceased hailed from as divers and fellow fishermen moved in to search for the bodies.

Trouble started on Wednesday night when six fishermen ventured into the lake to lay their nets ahead of fishing.

According to the chairman Lake Naivasha boat operators David Kilo, strong winds caused the engine-powered boat to capsize.

Kilo, who is also a seasoned fisherman said that three of the fishermen managed to hold to the sinking boat while the others were washed away.

He said that on Thursday morning passing fishermen saw the three and moved in to rescue them as a major operation for the others kicked off.

"The three were very weak when we rescued them and have taken them to hospital where they have been admitted," he said.

Naivasha sub-county fisheries officer Mathew Ngila who was among the rescuers termed the incident as shocking.

Ngila challenged fishermen to fit their boats with safety equipment noting that many of them did not have life jackets.

"The boat was over loaded and we have banned night fishing meaning that the six were in the lake illegally," he said.

One of the fishermen Daniel Onyango attributed the accident to heavy winds and the water hyacinth which has invaded a big section of the lake.

"The heavy winds must have caused the boat to capsize and we are also asking out members to keep away from the lake at night," he said.

The bodies were taken to Naivasha sub-county referral hospital mortuary as the relatives and friends tried to come to terms with the deaths.