Nakuru bans night fishing in Lake Naivasha, ferrying fish in matatus

Nakuru county government has banned night fishing in Lake Naivasha following reports that tens of fishermen were spending the night in the water body despite the current curfew.

Through the department of fisheries, the county has also outlawed transportation of fish using matatus as one way of containing the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

This came as the department, Kenya Wildlife Service and police officers formed a special patrol unit around the lake, which in the recent month, has been under immense pressure from former flower farm workers.

In a notice, Naivasha sub-county fisheries officer Nicholas Kagundu said fishing was going on at night despite the by-laws set by the county.

He warned that anyone found flouting the law would be arrested while the  fishermen would have their licences revoked.

“We have reports of massive fishing at night despite the national curfew and this endangers the lives of the fishermen who are not observing social distancing,” he said, adding: “As part of addressing Covid-19 spread, we have banned the transportation of fish using matatus, traders are supposed to use refrigerated vehicles,” he said.