Tragedy has struck again in Rarieda Sub-county as a 50-year-old man, Leonard Asunga Okune, was killed by a crocodile while fetching water at Got Kachola in East Katweng’a Sub-location, North Uyoma Ward. This comes just three weeks after a similar incident claimed the life of a woman in Kopiata.
Speaking about the harrowing incident, area chief Essau Oduru confirmed that Okune was attacked near trenches used by locals to fetch water, a short distance from Lake Victoria.
“I received a call around 6:50 PM informing me that Leonard Asunga Okune, 50 years old, was attacked by a crocodile while fetching water where they were working on a farm. The attack occurred just a few meters from the lake, between Kopiata and Kasiri, near the site of the January 5th attack. Although people tried to respond, it was already dark, and the crocodile became aggressive, making it unsafe to approach. The body has not yet been recovered, and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers from Owimbi are on their way to assist,” said Chief Oduru.
The deceased’s relative, Kevin Ayoo, recounted the terrifying events, explaining that Okune was accompanied by his son and brother at the time of the attack.
“The crocodile struck my cousin’s son with its tail, knocking him to the ground before it dragged his father into the lake. We could still sense the crocodile in the thicket last evening. This isn’t the first tragedy; in 2002, my father’s brother was also killed by a crocodile. These attacks are frequent, and the crocodiles seem to have multiplied,” Ayoo said.
Ayoo urged the KWS to take swift action to protect residents. “We are losing lives every month. Even livestock cannot approach the lake anymore. We need KWS to help us so we don’t continue living in fear and losing loved ones.”
Efforts to recover Okune’s body are ongoing, with residents and KWS officers working together in a desperate bid to locate the victim. The community has called for immediate intervention to address the growing threat of crocodile attacks in the region.
