• A fight over fish breeding space in Homa Bay county turned tragic when one of the fishermen died
• The deceased Jacob Odira who is 23-year-old fell off the boat before he was run over by one of the rival boats
• His body has not yet been retrieved, with officials from the Kenya Coast Guard leading the search efforts

Homa Bay: A 23-year-old man has been killed following a fight over fish breeding grounds between two factions operating in Lake Victoria.

The deceased, Jacob Odira, died when two boats suspected to be from Kwamwai and Ndhuru beaches attacked them as they were fishing.

Local fishermen told TUKO.co.ke that the incident happened around 10 pm on Sunday, October 6.

“Two boats sailing at a higher speed approached us as we were doing our fishing and started shouting that they had to kill us that day. Our helmsman asked why they declared war, and they only replied by raining stones towards us,” Penol Marcel, who was with the deceased, recounted.

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During the attack, Odira fell off the boat before he was run over by one of the rival boats. His body is yet to be recovered.

Lake Victoria fish breeding grounds row

Lela Beach Management Unit (BMU) chairman Alfred Omondi said the deceased had only worked for four days.

Omondi further noted that the invasion of fish breeding grounds might have caused the clash between the two factions of fishermen.

“The attack was done by the patrol team from one of the beaches. I ask the patrol teams to do the legal patrols and to avoid carrying weapons and attacking fishermen,” Omondi noted.

According to the Homa Bay Town Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Charles Mwayaya, the Kenya Coast Guard leads the search and retrieval effort.

“The Coast Guard and the BMU officials are spearheading the search because they are the only bodies with equipment that can be used in the exercise,” Mwayaya told TUKO.co.ke.

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Meanwhile, investigations into the incident have already started. Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations are handling the matter as they seek to ascertain the cause of the fight and arrest the culprits.

“You cannot pay a crime with a crime. Even though Odira and his crew invaded their breeding areas as they claim, they ought not to have killed him or instigated war towards them,” Mwayaya explained.

Kenya Fisheries Services destroys illegal fishing nets

Previously, TUKO.co.ke reported that officials from the Kenya Fisheries Services (KFS) set ablaze illegal fishing nets valued at over KSh 4 million.

The nets were seized following a multi-agency crackdown in Homa Bay County.

According to Christine Etiegni, the Kenya Fisheries Services deputy director in charge of the Kisumu region, the move is part of their efforts to conserve fish in the lake.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke