Nakuru County Gov’t Rules Out Re-Introducing Fishing Ban On Lake Naivasha

NAKURU,Kenya, Jan, 12 – For several months the fish population on lake Naivasha has been on a steady decline with poor fishing practices,climate change among other reasons blamed for the phenomenon.

Concerns among fishermen was rife that a ban on fishing would be implemented as a result affecting their livelihoods, the county government of Nakuru however now says that it will not re-introduce a ban it had implemented last year.

The government will now instead kick off a massive restocking programme in a bid to increase the fish population.

The move is in line with recommendations by a taskforce to address the challenges plaguing fishing in the lake.

“We have already introduced enforcement measures in the lake and we shall not reintroduce fish ban but embark on restocking,” said Governor Lee.

After receiving city status, the county government says towns that rely on fishing will equally be upgraded into municipalities.

“Nakuru has been elevated into a City and this gives room for other small towns like Molo and Gilgil to rise to municipality level which is a major gain to area residents,” he said.

Kinyanjuif made the announcement during a groundbreaking ceremony of the Sh68 million municipal park in Naivasha.

There were concerns that the land it sits on would be forcefully taken by land grabbers.

“For years unscrupulous traders have targeted public land in the county but my administration has moved in to reclaim them and handed them back to the public,” he said.

The park which was home to scores of street families will be modern recreation facility, with plans now underway to resettle the street families.