This archive report was first published on 21 September 2021.
On September 21, 2021, a devastating boat accident occurred in Lake Victoria, Homa Bay County, claiming two lives and leaving six others unaccounted for.
According to Homa Bay Township chief Joshua Ochogo, the bodies of a middle-aged woman and a one-and-a-half-year-old child were retrieved by rescuers and taken to Homa Bay County Referral Hospital mortuary.
The accident involved a passenger boat that had set off from Pier Beach in Homa Bay town, headed to Ndhuru beach in the neighbouring Mbita sub-county. The boat reportedly developed a serious crack, allowing water to enter, before capsizing over 500 meters away from the shore.
Witnesses suspected that the boat capsized due to overloading and strong winds across the lake. Joas Ochieng', a coxswain who operates another boat, stated, 'I saw the boat before it commenced its journey. Actually, it was overloaded and the weight and the wind must be the cause of the tragedy.'
Rescue efforts were led by the police, with Nyanza Regional Police Commander Karanja Muiruri confirming that two female passengers had been rescued and taken to Homa Bay Country Referral Hospital.
