A sombre mood has engulfed Muhuru Bay in Migori County after a local fisherman drowned during an early morning fishing expedition.
The deceased, identified as Francis Mohamed Mukama, 51, went out to the lake early in the morning but failed to return after a high-risk fishing maneuver went wrong.
His body has since been retrieved from the water.
Confirming the incident, Jared Maganya, the Secretary of Muhuru Beaches, stated that the tragedy was entirely preventable.
According to Mr Maganya, Mohamed was practicing a highly discouraged and dangerous fishing method that involves casting nets and then diving deep into the lake bed to drive fish into the mesh.
“This specific kind of fishing method is strongly discouraged across our beaches because it requires diving deep into the waters after setting up nets. It carries an extremely high risk of drowning, especially when done without safety gear or supervision,” Mr Maganya warned.
The beach management leadership noted that Mohamed had gone out onto the lake alone, drastically reducing his chances of survival when he encountered difficulties in the deep water.
In the wake of the tragedy, Muhuru beach officials have issued a stern warning to both fishermen and local beach leaders to enforce safety protocols or face legal action.
The beach management bureau has issued a stern directive making group fishing mandatory across all landing sites.
Fishermen are strongly advised against the high-risk practice of venturing onto the water alone and are now required to operate in teams so they can swiftly assist one another in the event of sudden emergencies or changing weather conditions.
Moving forward, compliance will be strictly enforced through heavy penalties; Mr Maganya warned that any fisherman caught violating this directive by going out solo will face severe disciplinary action and legal consequences.
Furthermore, accountability will extend directly to local administration, as beach leaders who turn a blind eye to these unsafe solo expeditions are warned that they will face the full wrath of the law for negligence.
