Appeal for help as four traders trapped in Lake Victoria

A picture of sailors and their boat as seen from Wagusu beach in Bondo Sub-county, Siaya county after they were pushed and got stuck in water hyacinth for the second day on January 09,2017. The sailors who are four in number are said to be Ugandans who trade bananas in Kenya. Since Saturday, they have been at vision range but the locals have no means of reaching them. (Photo: Denish Ochieng/ Standard)

The lives of four Ugandan traders are at risk after they were trapped by water hyacinth at Wagusu Beach in Siaya County three days ago.

The traders, a woman and three men, have been stuck in the water from 11pm on Saturday.

And 54 hours later there was still no sign of help for the Ugandans.

The traders were feared to be starving as they had exhausted their food and clean drinking water supplies.

They are said to have made a call yesterday to one of the residents of Wagusu, requesting for food because they had exhausted what they had been carrying.

Their boat appeared to have been blocked by the weed about a kilometre out at sea, as they were attempting to make their way out of the water hyacinth.

Standard photojournalist Denish Ochieng noticed through zoomed lenses that the trapped Ugandans were also trying to get water out of their boat using a yellow tin, an indication that the boat they were in could have been leaking.

Bondo Sub-County Fisheries Officer Evans Alando, on behalf of the county director of fisheries in Siaya, said the leakage could be attributed to the heavy weight in the boat.

MAIZE BAGS

Mr Alando said the Ugandans had been carrying bags of maize, bananas and other items that they sell.

"As a department, we have tried liaising with other relevant agencies dealing with disaster and management to assist in the rescue. So far, Kenya Maritime Authority, Kenya Red Cross Society, and Siaya county government are aware of the situation," said Alando.

SAME SITUATION

He said they had expected to get urgent assistance, but the situation still remains the same.

"We hope that by today (Tuesday) the rescue efforts will bear fruit so that lives can be saved," said Alando.

He said they had already warned people against going into the waters since there had been tendencies by the hyacinth to invade the lake waters and trap people.

Central Sakwa Beach Management Unit (BMU) network Chair William Otieno said they did not expect the traders to be stuck for more than 24 hours.

"They really tried to reach the shore as fast as possible when the waves were drawing the water hyacinth close to Wagusu, but their attempt was in vain," he said.

Wagusu BMU Chairman George Opere said apart from hunger, the people trapped in water are at risk of malaria due to the high number of mosquitoes around the place.

"The disadvantage is that they are in deep shores and hence cannot even attempt to swim.

"They also risk being attacked by hippos. Their fate is now in God's hands," Opere said.