Six people have been confirmed dead after their boat capsized in Lake Victoria, Busia County. The six were among thirteen people who were aboard a boat that was coming from Sigulu island in Uganda and which capsized near Khanete island on its way to Marenga beach in Port Victoria, Bunyala sub county in Busia County.
According to Bunyala sub county police commander Peterson Nyakundi, seven other people survived the Friday night accident and are being treated at Port Victoria sub county hospital. Nyakundi told journalists that the boat capsized due to strong currents in the lake and that it was overloaded when the tragedy struck, “The boat was coming to Port Victoria from Sigulu island in Uganda when it capsized near Khanete island. The currents were very strong in the lake and the boat had overloaded. It had thirteen people, twelve passengers and its driver.”
The sub county police boss also confirmed that by Saturday noon, the bodies of the passengers had not been retrieved, “Police officers from Kenya Coast Guard unit in collaboration with local divers are continuing with search mission to retrieve the bodies of those who died.”
Nyakundi also appealed to boats which carry passengers to various islands in the lake to take caution and avoid carrying excess passengers.