Fear and anxiety has gripped the fisherfolk around Lake Naivasha following the sharp rise in cases of fatal hippo attacks.
This came as another man was attacked and killed by a hippo in South Lake while fishing on the shores of the lake, as his colleagues fled from the troubled water body.
Since the year began, more than 20 people have died either from drowning or hippo attacks with illegal fishermen, popularly known as ‘foot-fishermen’, being the most affected.
The current situation has been worsened by rising water levels and an increase in the number of the fishermen.
In the latest incident, the middle-aged man was fishing on the shores of the lake on Tuesday morning when the lone hippo attacked, according to witnesses.
Grace Nyambura from the Lake Naivasha and Oloidien Boat Owners Association said five other men swam to safety during the attack.
She said that in the last one year, cases of hippo attacks have been on the rise, with scores dead and others nursing injuries.
“Every week we are recording at least one case of drowning or hippo attack in the lake involving foot-fishermen and these numbers are worrying,” she added.
Early in the month, one man was killed by a hippo and another seriously injured in Kasarani, North Lake, as water levels in the lake continued to rise.
According to Francis Muthui, the chairman of Friends of Lake Naivasha, more than 10 people have been killed or injured by the animals in the last two months.
He identified Kihoto, Kasarani, Tarambeta, Kongoni, Marula and Kamere as the most affected by cases of human-wildlife conflict.
Muthui said that since the lake burst its banks, acres of pasture land and access corridors have been flooded, pushing the animals into human settlement.
“The animals, mainly hippos and buffaloes, have been pushed into human settlement, hence the rise in the attacks where some people have lost their lives,” he added.
