Govt Cautions Kenyans Against Eating Fish From Lake Nakuru
On Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, responsible for mining, announced that the fish from Lake Nakuru is not suitable for human consumption.
While in Embu County, the CS clarified that the fish has a 32% content of arsenic metal, a naturally occurring toxic substance historically employed as a poison.
Prolonged consumption of arsenic can be fatal, and despite its industrial uses, its inherent dangers and adverse effects make it unsafe for human health.
CS Mvurya stated that the government arrived at this decision after conducting tests on the lake’s fish.
In response to this finding, the CS has established a multi-agency team to investigate the issue further.
This team will comprise the Department of Fisheries and Blue Economy, the Environment Department, and other relevant government agencies.
Furthermore, the CS mentioned that during a Cabinet meeting in Sagana, he brought up the concern, informing the ministers that the fish was negatively impacting the lives of Kenyans.
“In the last Cabinet that we went in Sagana, I made a presentation to confirm that the fish in Lake Nakuru is not fit for human consumption,” he stated.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the metal is associated with skin lesions, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, as well as skin and internal organ cancers. Importantly, this is not the first instance where the government has cautioned against consuming fish from Lake Nakuru.
In 2021, research conducted by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KEMRI) revealed the presence of hazardous chemicals in the fish, prompting the Ministry of Agriculture to issue a warning to the public.
The Ministry urged the County government of Nakuru to enforce a ban on fishing in the lake. Despite repeated warnings from both the government and researchers, fish from the lake continues to be distributed to markets throughout the country.
In 2018, former President Uhuru Kenyatta implemented a ban on the importation of fish from China as a measure to safeguard local fish traders.
