Joho sparks controversy after endorsing fishing in Lake Nakuru despite health warnings

Speaking during an empowerment event in Nakuru on Friday, Joho directed police officers not to arrest fishermen operating in the lake, declaring that he had granted them permission to continue fishing.

"Samaki ni yenu. Polisi, mimi ndio mhusika kamili na kuanzia leo nimewapea leseni waende wavue samaki wao," Joho said.

The CS further challenged police officers to stop interfering with fishermen, asserting his authority as the Cabinet Secretary responsible for fisheries.

"Waziri wa samaki ni nani? Amri iko wapi? Wewe polisi usijaribu kushika watu. Mimi ndio waziri wa samaki, mmesikia hiyo, na nimesema watu wavue samaki wao," he added.

His remarks have reignited a longstanding dispute over fishing activities in Lake Nakuru National Park, where government agencies have repeatedly warned against harvesting and consuming fish due to concerns over contamination.

The Kenya Fisheries Service (KeFS) maintains that fishing in the protected lake is illegal, with scientific findings raising concerns about the safety of fish harvested from its waters.

An April 2026 study by KeFS detected lead and parasites in sampled fish, with two samples exceeding the permitted lead safety limits.

According to the findings, some samples recorded lead concentrations of up to 0.74 milligrams per kilogram.

The agency warned that prolonged exposure to lead, even at low levels, could impair neurological function, affect cognitive development in children and damage kidney, cardiovascular and reproductive health in adults.

A separate study conducted by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in 2022 also raised concerns about contamination, detecting elevated levels of endosulfan in sampled Nile tilapia and identifying potential health risks associated with exposure to heptachlor epoxide.

The findings have informed repeated warnings by government agencies since 2021, including those issued during the tenure of Joho's predecessor, Salim Mvurya.

In 2025, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen warned that powerful individuals had infiltrated the fishing trade, alleging that fish harvested from Lake Nakuru was being transported to Kisumu before being returned to Nakuru for sale.

The controversy has also attracted the attention of the Senate Committee on Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, which ordered fresh testing of fish from the lake after petitioners challenged earlier findings.

The petitioners claimed they had been excluded from the sampling process, raising questions about the transparency of the scientific investigations.

Petitioner Tom Ochieng says stakeholders are awaiting further direction when the Senate resumes sittings.

Joho's latest remarks have now raised questions over the regulation of fishing activities within the protected national park, particularly amid existing restrictions and unresolved concerns about the safety of fish harvested from the lake.

The dispute also places the CS's public declaration at odds with previous warnings from government agencies, as questions persist over whether his remarks amount to formal authorisation to fish in Lake Nakuru.