Homa bay: Along the shores of Lake Victoria on a sunny morning, fishermen prepare to venture out to the lake, but they are confronted by a huge obstacle, the rapidly spreading water hyacinth. At Koginga beach, the fishermen converse in low tones pondering their options as the weed builds up. They are deeply worried because the invasion is a threat to their livelihoods.
According to Kenya News Agency, the stubborn weed has begun invading Kisaka, Ndhuru, and Sikri beaches in Mbita Sub-county alongside Koginga, Angalo, and Kananga beaches in Homa Bay Sub-county. The parts of the lake invaded by water hyacinth look like farmland with green vegetation. Some varieties of water hyacinth grow tall and appear like bushes. For the past few years, the water hyacinth had moved away from the beaches of Homa Bay county, but they are moving back fast.
At Koginga Beach, fishermen like Moses Mwai recall past ordeals with the hyacinth. Mwai, who was among the 70 fishermen trapped in Lake Victoria for three days in 2012, recounts how the government dispatched a helicopter from Nairobi to rescue them. "Whenever I see water hyacinth, I get traumatized due to the ordeal we went through," he said. The return of the weed has once again disrupted their fishing activities, making normal fishing impossible as it interferes with the movement of boats.
Other fishermen, such as Manoa, lament the financial losses due to the weed, which destroys their expensive fishing nets. Richard Otieno, a seasoned fisherman, highlights the health risks posed by the hyacinth, noting that it creates a breeding ground for mosquitoes, leading to increased malaria infections along the shores. The fishermen are calling on the government to implement robust measures to eradicate the water hyacinth.
Meanwhile, fish merchant George Oloo emphasizes the need for collaboration between the county and national governments to address the issue. However, for some, the water hyacinth offers a source of livelihood. Sarah Achieng notes the presence of young mudfish within the hyacinth, which they catch and sell, providing a lucrative economic activity. Ruth Onyango shares how the young mudfish has improved her family's livelihood, ensuring daily food on the table.
Despite these benefits, public health officials warn of the health risks for locals, mostly women, who wade into the hyacinth-infested waters to catch mudfish, risking infections like bilharzia associated with muddy waters.