STORY BY KENYA NEWS AGENCY
A 23-year-old fisherman was killed in a fight over fishing territory in Lake Victoria.
Homa Bay County Police Commander Hassan Barua said preliminary investigations revealed the deceased identified as Jacob Odira, attached to Lela beach, was killed in a dispute over fishing grounds.
He said reports indicate Odira had gone fishing alongside his three colleagues before they were attacked by a group of fishermen from the neighbouring Mbita Subcounty.
According to Michael Okoth, the coxswain of the boat which Odira had boarded, the assailants who were aboard accused them of trespassing into their fishing territory.
Okoth said the assailants started hurling them with stones and glass bottles.
“They told us they had come to kill us because we were fishing in their territory.” Okoth said.
He said in the ensuing melee, a stone hit Odira’s head before he lost grip of the boat and fell into the water.
Okoth said he got injured after another stone hit his head and said they pleaded with the assailants to forgive them but their pleas fell in deaf ears.
“We could not fight back because they were many and after subduing us, they robbed us of the engine of our boat and disappeared with it,” Okoth said.
He said they were later rescued by other fishermen when they raised an alarm.
Chairman Lela Beach Management Unit Alfred Onyango called on authorities to take legal action against the assailants.
“We appeal for justice for our colleague who was killed and the one who was injured,” Onyango said.
County police commander said they were in pursuit of the suspects who killed Odira.
“Our officers are on the ground searching for the body. They are also looking for the suspects who committed the heinous act,” Barua said.
The police boss warned fishermen against causing conflicts in the lake through creation of illegal territories.
"Let every fisherman fish wherever they want to” Barua said.
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