A man was killed in a suspected hippopotamus attack near the shores of Lake Victoria in Rachuonyo North Sub-County, Homa Bay County.
According to police, the incident was reported at Kendubay Police Station on July 18, 2026, at about 1:15 p.m. by Kamwala Assistant Chief Bernard Ochieng after fishermen discovered the body.
The fishermen, who were heading to Lake Victoria at around 8:00 a.m., found the body of Augustine Kitoto Aoko with severe injuries, including a broken leg, and alerted local authorities.
Police officers from Kendubay Police Station, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Rachuonyo North, and officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) visited the scene.
Preliminary investigations established that the deceased had left Luambo Bar in Kobala Sub-location at around midnight and is believed to have been attacked by a hippopotamus while walking home. Kenya Wildlife Service officers who examined the scene confirmed that the injuries were consistent with a hippo attack.
The deceased sustained a broken left leg and injuries to one of his hands.
Crime scene officers documented the scene before the body was moved to Gendia Hospital Mortuary, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Police and KWS have urged residents living near Lake Victoria to exercise caution, particularly at night, as hippopotamuses are highly territorial and can be extremely dangerous when encountered on land.
The family was advised to seek compensation. This is the latest incident of human-wildlife conflict in the country.
In May 2025, Kenya introduced the third phase of its Human–Wildlife Conflict Compensation Programme, an initiative aimed at addressing these incidents and supporting affected families.
During its launch at Meru National Park, President William Ruto unveiled the innovative Wildlife Conservation Card, a new tool designed to help fund conservation efforts.
“Compensation is justice, but prevention is progress,” Ruto said, emphasizing the need for long-term solutions that benefit both people and wildlife.
“Through the Conservation Card, fencing, and community‑led tourism, we are turning conflict into opportunity,” he added.
Developed in partnership with KCB Bank, the Wildlife Conservation Card is available in three tiers—Platinum (Elephant), Gold (Lion), and Silver (Cheetah).
A portion of every transaction made with the card (Sh10, Sh5, and Sh3, respectively) goes directly to the Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund.
The initiative aims to enable Kenyans and international supporters to contribute to wildlife conservation while fostering economic benefits for local communities.
With this new approach, Kenya hopes to build a future where humans and wildlife can coexist more safely and sustainably.
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