Kenyan fisherman Ben Wandera swims 5km to escape arrest by Ugandan police officers

Man swims 5km to escape being arrested

Mark Mwithaga

January 10, 2019 10:06 AM

Daring escape

Kenyan fisherman Ben Wandera during an interview (Nation)

A Kenyan fisherman man swam five kilometers to escape being arrested by police officers after jumping into Lake Victoria.

The man identified as Ben Wandera, explained that the he was fleeing from Uganda police officers during the Tuesday night incident, that saw three of his friends arrested and taken to a detention camp in the neighboring country.

Fishermen on Lake Victoria ece-auto-gen

The fisherman who hails from Buduong’i village in Funyula Constituency stated that he grabbed a life jacket and jumped into the lake after they were ambushed.

“My colleagues who were at the front of the boat were hard hit but as some of the officers approached me, I grabbed a lifesaver jacket from our boat and dived into the lake,” he recalled.

Wandera, who is yet to report the matter to the Kenyan police, pointed out that the government should intervene to help the fisherman from such ordeals.

“Kenyan fishermen have been reduced to hostages in the lake by Ugandan soldiers. The government seems to have neglected its people.

“We are at the mercy of the Ugandan forces who not only steal from us but also beat up our people,” remarked the fisherman.

Government to take action

In July last year, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i noted that the government would deal with foreigners who harassed Kenyan fishermen in Lake Victoria.