By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 22 August 2026 - At Othany Beach, Lake Victoria is both a lifeline and a source of fear.
Every day, fishermen venture into the waters to earn a living. Along the shoreline, women wait for the catch, turning fish into income for their families.
But crocodile attacks have increasingly threatened that fragile livelihood.
Now, residents are beginning to see a glimmer of hope.
Timon Oyucho, a Teachers Service Commission commissioner and Seme parliamentary aspirant, has stepped in to support efforts to make Othany Beach safer.
Working in consultation with Kenya Wildlife Service rangers, Oyucho helped facilitate the construction of a crocodile trap in the waters where the reptiles have been a persistent danger to fishermen.
“We cannot watch our people live in fear every time they go into the lake to look for food,” Oyucho said.
“As a TSC commissioner, I understand the importance of investing in people. As a son of this community, I believe we must also protect the livelihoods of the people who depend on Lake Victoria.”
For fisherfolk women Eunice Akoth, Ruth Achieng and Quinter Oyoo the intervention could not have come at a better time.
Akoth said the crocodile menace had created fear among families living and working around the beach.
“We are happy because this is about our safety. Our husbands, sons and other fishermen have to enter these waters every day. Anything that makes the beach safer gives us hope,” she said.
Achieng said the proposed installation of solar street lights at the beach would further transform the community.
“We also welcome the solar lights because security has been a major concern at night. When the beach is dark, people become vulnerable,” she said.
Oyoo said better lighting would benefit not only fishermen but also women who depend on fish trading for their livelihoods.
“We want to see Othany become a safer and more productive beach. The lights will help us feel safer and allow economic activities to continue even after sunset,” she said.
Oyucho said the interventions were part of a broader commitment to improving the welfare of lakeside communities.
He donated more than KSh 300,000 to fisherfolk women's groups at Othany Beach to support their livelihoods.
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But he is also looking beyond immediate assistance.
Oyucho promised to establish a volleyball pitch at the beach and work towards creating a sports talent academy to identify and nurture young sporting talent in Seme.
“Our young people have talent. What they lack are facilities and opportunities. We must bring those opportunities closer to them,” he said.
For the fisherfolk, however, the bigger economic question is what happens to the fish once it leaves the lake.
Oyucho pledged to push for the establishment of a fish-processing plant around Lake Victoria, arguing that communities producing the fish should also benefit from processing and export opportunities.
“It is irrational to have the fish-processing factory far away from where the fish is harvested,” he said.
“We want our factory here, where fish is harvested and produced.”
He said processed fish could be exported through Kisumu International Airport, creating jobs and new markets for local fishermen.
“We should not continue exporting raw opportunities. We need to process our fish here, add value and create wealth for our people,” Oyucho said.
He also called for greater investment in fish bandas, storage facilities and roads linking beaches to markets.
He praised government efforts to improve landing sites and lakeside roads, saying such infrastructure was critical to unlocking the Blue Economy.
At Othany, the crocodile trap may be the immediate symbol of change.
But for Akoth, Achieng and Oyoo, the bigger hope lies in a beach where fishermen can work without fear, women can trade safely, young people can pursue their talents and fish can generate wealth beyond the shoreline.
For a community that has long depended on a lake that can be both generous and unforgiving, that promise is beginning to feel like a new chapter.
Taming Crocodiles: Timon Oyucho's Initiative to Make Othany Beach Safer
When the crocodiles came calling, Othany found Hope on the shores of Lake Victoria.