Two fishermen have lost their lives and another injured after their encounter with pirates during a fishing expedition in Lake Victoria on Sunday.
The trio from Suba North Sub County reportedly came across the pirates, allegedly from Tanzania, near Rukuba beach along the Kenyan-Tanzanian water border.
The incident was confirmed by Ringiti Beach Management Unit Chair Bernard Odhiambo who confirmed the deaths of Naftali Okoth (29) and George Ochieng (26).
He said that the suspects demanded the fishermen's fishing gear and boat engine, which they declined, resulting in a fight, but the fishermen were overpowered.
“The fishermen declined, prompting the pirates to pounce on them with crude weapons, They (fishermen) were later overpowered,” he was quoted by the Standard.
He said that they stabbed Okoth in the stomach and assaulted Ochieng and tossed their bodies into the water, while Kevin Onyuka, the survivor, managed to swim away after also being assaulted and saved by fishermen nearby.
Homabay County Police Commander Samuel Obara said that a search for the bodies has since kicked off, and a manhunt launched for the suspects.
“We have sent a team of investigators on the case to establish who the attackers were to ensure they are arrested for appropriate action,” he said.
Odhiambo said that the suspects were well armed, hence their ability to overpower the fishermen.