Two fishermen drown in Lake Victoria

A team of divers on a search and rescue mission in Lake Victoria on September 22, 2021. [James Omoro, Standard]

Two fishermen drowned in Lake Victoria at the weekend.

In the first incident, Calvince Otieno, 25, drowned near Lela Beach in Homa Bay Sub-county. The body was recovered on Saturday evening.

Otieno reportedly left home for a fishing expedition alongside other fishermen.

Upon venturing the lake a few kilometres from the shores, he began feeling nauseous. The discomfort made him slip from the boat into the waters.

According to Homa Bay Township Location Senior Chief Joshua Ochogo, fishermen tried to rescue Otieno but failed.

"It seems he had health problems which made him uncomfortable before he fell in the water," Ochogo said.

His body was taken to Homa Bay County Referral mortuary.

In the second incident, the fisherman identified as Justus Ouma drowned in the lake near Ringiti Island in Mbita Sub-county.

Ouma drowned on Saturday while fishing with his colleagues.

According to the treasurer of Ringiti Beach Management Unit Dan Sure, Ouma drowned due to strong winds on the lake.

"They had just cast their nets but a storm prevailed, causing an imbalance of the boat before he fell in the water," Sure said.

Fishermen, his relatives and friends are going on with an operation to retrieve his body from the lake.

Sure appealed to government authorities to help in retrieving the body.