One fisherman dead as boat capsizes in Lake Victoria

Fishermen in Lake Victoria.[James Omoro,Standard]

A fisherman has died in Lake Victoria after the boat he was using during his fishing expedition capsized.

The man identified as James Okello, a resident of Namasali village, Busia county died as he tried to swim to the shores of the freshwater lake.

Budubusi sub-location assistant chief Maurice Nyongesa confirmed the incident saying that he was in the company of two fishermen who survived.

“We have lost him. We are still looking for the body and divers are doing everything they can to retrieve the body,” Nyongesa said.

A survivor said the Wednesday 4 pm incident happened when a heavy wind that was blowing across the water body during the storm overturned the boat, leaving them with only one option – to swim to the lake shore.

“The boat capsized as the three fishermen were moving from Marenga to Budubusi,” Nyongesa said.

The assistant chief said fishermen and officers from the Kenya Coast Guard based in Port Victoria have commenced a search operation to retrieve Okello’s body.

The administrator cautioned fishermen against fishing deep in the lake as heavy rains associated with the El-Nino continue pounding some parts of the country.

“Right now, when the weather is not conducive for fishing, we urge fishermen to avoid going into the water,” Nyongesa said.

“If they must go, then they must use bigger boats which cannot easily be overturned by winds or water waves and they must also use live jackets, just in case an incident happens.”