Writes Leo Odera Omolo At Mbita Point.

RESIDENTS of Rusinga Island, on Lake Victoria, are in a big shock and puzzlement, as a well as in a mourning mood, following the weekend shocking incident in which a young man was savagely attacked and killed by a rogue Hippo.

This is the fourth islander to die in the jaw of a Hippo within the small Island, which is located in the newly created Mbita district. The district was recently sub-divided into two, following the creation of two more districts, namely Gwassi and Mbita.

The first incident occurred at Wasaria village in East Rusinga Location, and the second incident took place at Kaswantga village in Rusinga West, while the third incident took place a month ago in Waregi Village, also in Rusinga East.

Residents says there too many Hippos and the population has gone up three-folds, and yet most part of the lake shore is so dry and lacks green pasture on which these animals feeds on.

On Friday morning, at about 11am, Oketch Onyango Ajuwang’, aged 30 and two companions had gone to the lake shore to take bath. He was in the company of his cousin, Mr. Okeyo Omolo Ajuwang’, and one Eric Ndeda, when the beast suddenly appeared from the water and attacked them.

Oketch sustain serious head injuries. His skull was broken and split. He died instantly, while his friends escaped with minor bruises, but were treated for for shock.

The incident took place at Rangi, situated next next to Chiro Fish Landing Beach, in Kamgere villag, Rusinga East Location. His body was later removed at the scene of the incident by the police and taken to Homa-Bay for a post mortem examination.

Experts in animal studies say, Hippos rarely attack human beings, unlike crocodiles. But due to lack of free pasture along the lake shore, it seems that the animals are starving and as such have become wild and enraged due to hungers.

The residents have appealed to the Government to come to their rescue by removing the Hippos from the lake shore close to the human habitation, or kill them if they have become uncontrollable.

The chairman of Rusinga Elders Council, Mr Apollo Okeyo Omuga, pleaded with the Provincial Administration to collaborate with the official of the Kenya Wildlife Services manning the nearby Ruma National Game Reserve Park at Lambwe Valley, to hunt all rogue Hippos along the shores of the lake, particularly in those areas which are close to the villages.

This particular incident has scared many of the residents. Most of them now prefer drawing water in a hurry and taking bath at home, on fear of possible attack.

The villagers got especially scared to death when the same animal, which is suspected to have killed Mr. Oketch, raised its ugly head in the lake surface and started snorting while facing the mourners, who had gathered at the scene of the accident. This was within only 30 meter from the lake shore where a huge crowd of people had gathered, while waiting for the police to come and collect the body for the Hospital morgue. They ran helter-skelter, but the animal dived back into the water and disappear.

Ends

leoderaomolo@yahoo.com
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From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Sun, Sep 20, 2009 at 1:55 AM
Subject: RESIDENTS OF RUSINGA ISLAND ARE IN BIG SHOCK AND MOURNING MOOD AS HIPPO KILLS THE FOURTH PERSON WITHIN TWO MONTHS TIME.