20 boats trapped by hyacinth

By Standard Digital

Twenty boats each with an average of four fishermen are trapped in Lake Victoria for the last for 24hrs, Kenya Red cross has reported.

The boats are trapped by water hyacinth along Rambira Beach in Karabondi sub-location in Rachuonyo North District.
Kenya Red Cross is spearheading the rescue operation jointly with Kenya Maritines Authority and County Commissioner are spearheading rescue operation and a hopper is expected to bolster the rescue.

Ministry of Health are also working on supplying rehydration solution for the fishermen.

Homabay is facing a serious threat by water hyacinth, a deadly weed that has covered over 100 acres in Lake Victoria.

The floating mats of water hyacinth weed have severely affected fishing, navigation, drainage, water supply and power generation schemes.

Yesterday(Thursday), a boat carrying four children was trapped for four hours but later managed to sail through a trap of hyacinth weed in Lake Victoria.

The boat rider walked hand in hand with the children till they came out of the deep end of the lake. They this did for four hours as anxious fire fighters, Red Cross, locals and visitors watched helplessly from a distance.

The children from the same family had taken a boat ride after having lunch at Kisumu’s Tilapia beach when a strong wind blew in the weed.

A heavy downpour accompanied by thunderstorm forced the rider Ken Nyalik to hold on to one spot as they waited for the rain to subside.

Their mother, Lucy Ndungu said they had arrived at the lake city for the graduation of her daughter Joan Nyokabi and decided to have some lunch at the beach. She graduated from Delc Institute with a degree in law.

Ms Ndungu shed tears as the clouds grew thicker and the weed continued piling as sirens from a fire engine and an ambulance got closer to the scene.

When Nyalic managed after four hours to get the boat to the shore, hundreds of residents who had arrived at the scene gave him a hero’s welcome with song and dance.

“The lake was clear when we left but suddenly winds and waves pushed the hyacinth towards the boat surrounding it,” he said.

Mr JB Radin’g, who brought the family for lunch and paid for the boat ride, made several calls to friends and well wishers to come rescue the children.

Kenya Red Cross Emergency Operation Center has warned residents and travelers of risking getting trapped as boats and canoes encounter difficulties navigating through water surfaces chocked with water hyacinths.