The chairperson of the Lake Kenyatta Beach Management Unit-BMU, Samuel Musyoka said the KWS has yet to effect any changes as the hippo attacks keep rising by day.
“Just last month we lost a fisherman here after his boat was toppled over by a hippo. The number of hippos in our lakes here is alarming. We want the KWS to try and control their breeding so that we can use the lake to fish as it’s our livelihood,” Musyoka said.
Many fishermen are unable to venture into the lakes to fish for fear of being attacked by the hippos.
They also want the KWS to compensate them for the destruction caused to their fishing gear and boats by the animals.
“They don’t just want to kill us, they also destroy our nets, lines and other tools of trade. We are asking the KWS to compensate us because the gear is quite costly,” Cyrus Munyi said.
The situation has equally affected the supply of fish which has drastically reduced sending fish mongers like Grace Akinyi out of the market.
“I would buy at least 20 kilos of fish daily. Now, I can barely make it to 10 kilos because there is no fish. Fishermen no longer go fishing am told because of too many hippos in the lakes around here,” she said.
In his response, Lamu County KWS Assistant Director Ahmed Ibrahim admitted to the high number of hippos in Lake Kenyatta.
He however denied being aware of any deaths caused by the wildlife on Lake Kenyatta and urged fishermen to desist from invading hippo hideouts.
“I am aware of a fisherman who was injured by a hippo but not death. People however need to understand that the Lakes are more habitats for hippos than they are for fishing. The only way to stay safe is to stay out of such habitats,” he said.
He, however revealed plans by the KWS in partnership with the county government of Lamu to fence off areas infested by hippos.
