A fisherman has been killed while six others sustained injuries in a fight over fishing rights in Lake Victoria.
The fisherman identified as Charles Odhiambo, 22, died in the lake near Nyaroya Beach, Mbita Subcounty in Homa Bay County.
Odhiambo was reportedly killed over the weekend by his fellow fishermen during a physical confrontation between two groups of fishermen.
The fighting pitied fishermen from Nyaroya Beach Management Unit (BMU) and their colleagues from Kaugege BMU in Mbita.
Eyewitnesses said that the fight broke out when fishermen from Nyaroya claimed their Kaugege counterparts were fishing in their territories.
The Nyaroya fishermen claimed their colleagues were fishing in an area they had reserved for breeding of young fish.
When they attempted to repulse the Kaugege fishermen, they stayed put leading to a flare-up of violence.
Homa Bay County Beach Management Network Chairman Edward Oremo condemned the incident saying that such issues ought to be resolved amicably.
Odhiambo was allegedly beaten to death before his body drowned in the lake during the fighting. However, the body was later retrieved.
“The report we have is that Odhiambo was killed using crude weapons when they were fighting over a fishing ground,” Oremo said.
He said six fishermen from both BMUs sustained serious injuries. They were rushed to various health facilities in the county.
“I urge my fellow fishermen to be tolerant and ensure dialogue prevails whenever such issues arise,” Oremo said.
He appealed to security officers to ensure justice prevails for the family of the fisherman who lost his life.
Mbita Deputy County Commissioner Peter Mutiso told fishermen to avoid taking the law into their hands.
“Let fishermen regulate themselves in line with the law. Violence is unacceptable,” Mutiso said.
“I am holding a public baraza over the incident tomorrow morning. We are investigating the incident to get to the bottom of it,” Mutiso said.
The body was moved to MED 25 Kirindo Mortuary.
