The Kenya Maritime Authority has hired a machine to remove the water hyacinth in Lake victoria. The machine, which has been hired from the National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation, cost Sh8 million.

It is currently in Homa Bay but will be relocated whenever the weeds moves to a different region. The authority will remove the hyacinth for one month and three weeks.

The head of maritime safety at KMA, Wilfred Kagimbi, said: "We are yet to determine the amount of water hyacinth this machine can remove in a day because it had not served this purpose before."

The machine's introduction is not expected to totally eradicate the weed in the stipulated period. Its aim is to prove to various organisations charged with the responsibility of controlling the weed that success can be realised through the mechanical method.