• Speaking to the Senate on March 24, 2026, he cautioned that toxins in the fish could cause serious illnesses, including cancer.

Kenya Wildlife Service Director General Erastus Kanga has warned that illegal fishing in Lake Nakuru has become a national health crisis, with contaminated fish reaching unsuspecting consumers across the country.

Speaking to the Senate on March 24, 2026, he cautioned that toxins in the fish could cause serious illnesses, including cancer.

“As Lake Nakuru expands its banks, residents are now collecting fish directly from their homesteads. Despite repeated enforcement attempts, illegal sales continue. Activists have complicated crackdowns, allowing contaminated fish to reach unsuspecting Kenyans — particularly in Nairobi and other major cities,” he noted.

Kanga emphasized that Lake Nakuru, covering between 35 and 60 square kilometers, is a protected biodiversity zone, not a food source. Its proximity to sewage outlets and industrial waste has left the water heavily polluted, rendering all organisms unfit for human consumption.

His warning follows years of escalating alerts. In 2021, the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) declared fish from the lake unsafe after detecting high chemical levels.

Read More

  1. Rongai Parliamentary Contender Rallies for UDA Grassroots Elections
  2. Nakuru Invests 155 Million to End Preventable Birth Deaths
  3. Kihika Declares Nakuru Set for UDA Grassroots Elections This Saturday

In 2024, the then Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Salim Mvurya confirmed toxic arsenic levels and imposed a formal ban.

In 2025, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen warned that powerful individuals were driving the illegal trade, endangering public health. Nakuru County reinforced the ban later that year, threatening prosecution for violators.

Scientific studies show why the fish are unsafe: heavy metals such as arsenic, chromium, nickel, and lead exceed international safety limits; untreated sewage flows directly into the lake; industrial effluent raises nitrate levels and depletes oxygen; and species like tilapia were introduced only to control mosquitoes, not for human consumption.

The Senate has now directed KWS to intensify patrols, enforce bans, and collaborate with county authorities to stop illegal fishing.

 Lawmakers also urged public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the dangers of consuming fish from Lake Nakuru.

Stay connected with us on WhatsApp and Facebook for instant updates and breaking news as it happens.