An 18-year-old Form Four graduate was killed by a hippopotamus at Kokina beach in the West Yimbo location of Usigu sub-county, Siaya County, yesterday evening.
The individual, identified as Maxwell Ochieng’, tragically lost his life after going for a bath at the shores of Lake Victoria, just three days after completing his KCSE examinations at Osieko Secondary School.
According to West Yimbo location Chief Paul Olang’, Maxwell was bathing at the lakeshore with three friends when the hippo attacked him. His companions, who managed to flee to safety, witnessed the incident. Olang’ confirmed that the hippo mauled Maxwell and tossed his body into the lake, which has yet to be recovered.
He stated that a search for the body would commence on Wednesday morning and cautioned against children bathing along the lakeshore, especially given the lake’s high water levels resulting from recent rains.
The administrator also urged parents and guardians to closely supervise their children to prevent them from playing near the lakeshore to avoid such preventable tragedies.
