During an empowerment gathering in Nakuru on Friday, Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho told police officers to refrain from arresting fishermen operating on Lake Nakuru, saying he had granted them permission to continue fishing.

He emphasized his authority over fisheries, stating that he was the responsible minister and that licences had been issued for the activity.

The remarks revive a long‑standing dispute over fishing in the protected Lake Nakuru National Park, where government agencies have repeatedly warned that harvesting fish is illegal and may pose health risks.

Kenya Fisheries Service (KeFS) maintains that fishing in the lake is prohibited and cites scientific findings that raise safety concerns about the fish.

An April 2026 KeFS study detected lead and parasites in sampled fish, with two specimens exceeding the permitted lead safety limit of 0.74 mg per kilogram.

The agency warned that even low‑level lead exposure can impair neurological function, affect children’s cognitive development, and damage kidney, cardiovascular and reproductive health in adults.

A 2022 Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) investigation also identified elevated endosulfan levels in Nile tilapia and highlighted health risks from heptachlor epoxide exposure.

Government warnings on Lake Nakuru fishing date back to 2021 and were issued under Joho’s predecessor, Salim Mvurya.

In 2025, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen warned that powerful individuals were exploiting the lake’s fish trade, alleging that catches were moved to Kisumu and then returned for sale in Nakuru.

The Senate Committee on Security, Defence and Foreign Relations has ordered fresh testing of lake fish after petitioners questioned the transparency of earlier sampling processes.

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

Joho’s statements have sparked debate over whether they constitute formal authorisation to fish in a protected national park, given existing legal restrictions and ongoing health concerns.