Hippos kill two flower farm workers in Lake Naivasha

A bloat of hippos lies on the shores of Lake Naivasha where cases of human-wildlife conflict have been on the rise mainly involving foot-fishermen. [Antony Gitonga, Standard]

Two flower farm workers were killed by hippos while fishing on the shores of Lake Naivasha.

One was killed while fishing near Kihoto, and the other in Karagita.

Since the year began, at least ten people, mainly ‘foot-fishermen’ have been killed by hippos.

The incident comes barely a fortnight after an official of the Kamere Landing Beach was attacked and killed by a hippo while on guard at the busy facility.

Grace Nyambura, the chair of Lake Naivasha and Oloidien boat owners’ association, said the most affected were illegal fishermen, popularly known as ‘foot-fishermen.’

She attributed the rising cases to an upsurge in illegal fishermen, an uncontrolled population of hippos and encroachment of the riparian land.

“We have lost two men to hippo attacks around the lake, bringing to six the number of people killed in the last two months,” she said.

Nyambura expressed concern over the rising number of hippos in the lake saying that they pose danger to the local community.

Meanwhile, a man found vandalising houses damaged by the Mai Mahiu flash floods was beaten to death by irate residents who were rendered homeless by the tragedy.

The residents accused some youths from the nearby Mai Mahiu and Longonot towns of taking advantage of the tragedy to enrich themselves through vandalising property.

Josphat Mwai said tens of youths had invaded the area hit by floods to search for scrap metal and other items.

Mwai said the suspect was caught vandalising doors and windows in one of the houses partially damaged by the floods.

“Some people have taken advantage of the tragedy to loot what was left behind, and one of the suspects was caught by residents who beat him to death,” he said.

Naivasha OCPD Stephen Kirui said the body was removed to Naivasha mortuary, and an inquest file opened.