The bodies of four fishermen who drowned after a hippo attack in Lake Naivasha have been recovered following a two-day search, renewing concerns over safety and human-wildlife conflict on the lake.
The victims were among 14 youths who had gone fishing near Karlo Farm when they were suddenly attacked by hippos. In the chaos that followed, the fishermen jumped into deeper waters to escape, but four failed to swim back to safety. Two bodies were retrieved on Saturday evening, with the remaining two recovered on Sunday morning through a joint operation involving the Kenya Coast Guard Service and local fishermen.
Naivasha DCIO Isaac Kiama confirmed that all the missing persons have been accounted for and said inquest files have been opened. He raised concern over the growing number of young men engaging in illegal foot fishing, often without proper safety gear.
Residents and conservation groups say rising water levels, encroachment on riparian land and shrinking wildlife corridors have increased encounters between humans and hippos. While some stakeholders have called for relocation of aggressive animals, wildlife authorities maintain that illegal fishing remains a major contributor to the fatalities.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the delicate balance between livelihoods and safety around Lake Naivasha.
