Fishermen in Gwassi South in Homa Bay county are mourning one of their won who was killed by a hippopotamus on the shores of lake Victoria on Tueaday.
Mr Erick Ooo was reportedly attacked by the animal while taking a birth at Rasira Beach, with witnesses saying that the animal attacked him with its teeth, killing him instantly.
Rasira Beach Management Unit Chairman Sospeter Ayakp said that the 27-year-old encountered the hippo immediately he jumped into the water.
He added that the animal immediately tore his body apart, making attempts by his colleagues to save his life futile.
“The man dived into the water directly where the hippo was. He was attacked on the spot,” he was quoted by the Nation.
However, Mr Maurice Owino who was with the deceased at the time said that he narrowly escaped deaths by getting way after witnessing his colleague being killed.
The fishermen said that the animal disappeared into the lake immediately after the incident, which was confirmed by county Kenya Wildlife Station Warden Grace Wendot.
The ranger said that plans to have a pathological test conducted on the body are on course, before a compensation negotiations begin.
"We will rely on a post-mortem report and our own assessment which will determine whether the family of the victim will be compensated or not. The matter will be discussed with the family,” she said.
She called upon locals to be very careful as they share the lake with wild animals, further urging them to report such instances to the KWS.