Heartbroken Mother Blames Smugglers After Daughter's Tragic Drowning in Lake Turkana

Tue Oct 21 2025 04:19:18 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Senait Mebrehtu reflects on the loss of her teenage daughter Hiyab, who tragically drowned during a perilous crossing to Kenya, highlighting the dangers of migrant smuggling routes.

Senait Mebrehtu mourns her 14-year-old daughter who drowned in Lake Turkana while attempting to escape Eritrean oppression through a treacherous smuggling route. With rising dangers from smugglers, the plight of migrants intensifies in East Africa, prompting calls for safety and awareness.

As the evening sky painted hues over Lake Turkana, Senait Mebrehtu, an Eritrean asylum seeker, threw flowers into the water in remembrance of her daughter Hiyab, who lost her life while attempting to reach Kenya via a perilous smuggling route. The 14-year-old drowned during a late-night crossing on the lake, where strong winds posed serious risks for those in rickety boats. Senait had previously sought refuge in Kenya, leaving her two elder daughters back home due to fears of military conscription in Eritrea, a country rife with human rights violations and oppressive governance.

Desperate to reunite her family, Senait found herself consulting smugglers, a dangerous gamble that cost her daughter’s life. She recalls, "If the smugglers had warned me about the risks, I wouldn't have let them go." Meanwhile, a trafficker confirmed that Lake Turkana is now a common crossing point for migrants, who increasingly face the threat of drowning at the hands of greedy smugglers.

The smuggler revealed that with heightened enforcement across major roads, many are now forced to take to the waters of Lake Turkana. She earns a significant income for each migrant she transports, but expressed her unease about the growing threats to children. Yet, the financial lure keeps the smuggling network in business as it exploits the vulnerabilities of fleeing families.

Eyewitness accounts from migrants who made the same crossing highlight the perilous conditions. Osman, who was also on the deadly voyage, witnessed Hiyab's boat capsize, resulting in tragedy. While many are left feeling hopeless, the danger of smuggling remains a dire reality, with families of the deceased often misled about their loved ones’ fates.

Reports show deaths and disappearances among those attempting the dangerous journey, prompting calls for greater awareness and caution. The UNHCR's statistics indicate a surge in Eritrean refugees, with Kenya and Uganda emerging as preferred destinations amidst regional conflicts. As families like Senait's look for safety, they find themselves further entrenched in a web of exploitation that threatens their very lives.

Senait continues to mourn her daughter's loss, hoping for a future free from the perils of human trafficking and conflict. "We have experienced what so many families are going through," she reflected. Her plea for awareness resonates deeply amid increasing tragedies in the region, emphasizing the urgent need for safety and justice for those seeking a new life.