Lego Maria worshipers as they prayed at Dunga Beach. Photo: Denish Ochieng

Forget Bahati and Willy Paul’s definition of prayer partners, these Lego Maria worshippers has their own partners as they prayed by Lake Victoria.

The residents who are now seeking divine intervention to tackle the water hyacinth menace in the lake had birds perched on them as they prayed.

During the weekend, faithful from the Legio Maria church camped at Dunga beach and prayed for the disappearance of the rapidly spreading weed.

They spent several hours offering prayers as the curious wananchi watched.

Roselyn Otieno, a worshipper with the church, told The Standard that the faithful had been instructed by God to pray for the disappearance of the notorious weed.

"Those with the Holy Spirit are normally focused on the duty that they have been sent to do," she said.

The prayers come at a time when the weed has been spreading rapidly in the lake, with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) estimating that it had covered up to 10,620 hectares by November 5 last year and announcing that it was spreading fast.

According to Kisumu regional KMFRI director Christopher Aura, the weed has been growing steadily, choking fisheries and transport in the lake.

It is estimated that the weed costs the local economy up to Sh16 million every day with half of the 160 beaches in the lake completely blocked.