Hippopotamus at Lake Naivasha. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]
A licensed fisherman is feared dead after a boat capsized in Lake Naivasha on Wednesday evening following a hippo attack.
During the incident near Kasarani landing beach, two other fishermen managed to swim to safety as cases of hippo attacks continued to rise.
The three were setting their nets when a lone hippo attacked and hit their boat, which capsized, sending them into the troubled waters.
In the last couple of months, cases of hippo attacks mainly involving illegal fishermen have risen in the lake, with over 30 people losing their lives since the year began.
According to Grace Nyambura from Lake Naivasha and Lake Oloiden Fisher's Organisation, this was the third time that the lone hippo had attacked fishermen in the area.
She said that the issue of the rogue hippo had been reported to KWS, but no action had been taken, adding that they feared that the missing fisherman could have drowned.
“This was a licensed fisherman who was setting up his nets in the lake when the hippo attacked and a search and rescue operation is going on,” she said.