Man killed by crocodile in Bondo

Two men wrap the body of a fisherman killed by a crocodile at Uhoma Beach in Siaya County, as others look. [Isaiah Gwengi/Standard]

A man died after being attacked by a crocodile in Uhoma Beach, Uhanya Village in Siaya County.

The deceased, Lawrence Otieno, is reported to have been on a fishing mission in the crocodile-infested lake.

Otieno failed to return home on Wednesday morning prompting his wife Eunice Atieno, and other fishermen to launch a search for him.

They found his belongings at the shore of the lake, raising an alarm to the locals to join in the search for the missing man.

The area assistant chief Manase Osuru told The Standard that the badly mauled body of Otieno, who hails from Obambo Village in Kisumu County, was found about 100 metres from where his belongings were found.

“We launched a search on Thursday morning after the deceased’s wife reported that her husband was missing after he had gone to fish,” said Osuru.

Speaking on Thursday, the agitated residents called on the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) to remove crocodiles from the lake arguing that the reptiles do not benefit them.

"The KWS officers are based in Siaya and it becomes very difficult to reach when crocodiles and hippos attack. We are therefore requesting the government to relocate the station near the lake," said a resident.

The body of the mauled man was taken to Bondo Sub-County hospital mortuary.

Last week, a 34-year-old man survived after he was attacked by a crocodile in Rarieda Sub-County.

Moses Anyumba was admitted to Abidha Health Centre in East Asembo.

Rabolo Beach Management Unit Chairman George K’onjuru said the man had gone to have a bath at the lakeshore when the crocodile pounced on him.

Elsewhere, a body of a 41-year-old man who went missing for four days was retrieved from River Yala.

The body of Alfred Omondi was recovered from the river around Magombe area in Bondo Sub-County.

According to the Assistant Chief of Nyawita Sub-Location Ayub Ogola, the deceased hailed from Nyajuok Sub-Location in the neighbouring Alego-Usonga Sub-County.

He told The Standard that the deceased is said to have committed suicide by jumping into river Got Winyo, after which he drowned.

Ogola who confirmed the retrieval of the body stated that the body has since been removed to Bondo Sub-County hospital mortuary to await postmortem as investigations begin into the matter.