Officers from the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) and their counterparts from the Kenya Coast Guard Services (KCGS) have retrieved the bodies of two fishermen who died on Friday night after their boat collided with a passenger ferry near Rusinga Island.
The bodies were found on Monday afternoon after a two-day search that also involved fishermen from Chamaunga and Nyangina beaches.
"Rescuers had to pull them out of the water into their boats and transport them to the beach. They were then taken to the mortuary," he said.
They failed to move their small boat to let the larger vessel, MV Chamaunga, which was sailing to Mbita town, pass.
Mbita sub-county Police Commander Stanley Atavachi said marine police were investigating the incident and will pinpoint the exact cause of the crash.
Since the establishment of agencies like the KMA, KCGS and others on the lake last year, fishermen and other vessel operators have been keen on safety to avoid arrest.
According to Mr Atavachi, the fishermen from Nyangina beach were stuck in the water.
"The other two reported that the lake was windy so they decided to anchor their boats. But they did not know that they were in the path of a ferry,” he said.
In windy conditions, fishermen are advised to stay on land for their own safety.
Mr Kaseu, the Nyangina Beach Management Unit chairman, said there were strong winds on the lake at the time of the accident and the fishermen found it difficult to sail their boat.
"They decided to cast their nets while anchoring the vessel at the point where they could not move," he said.
If he had seen the fishermen, he would have alerted them to move out of the way by hooting.
