The Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations has ordered an urgent inquiry after a fisherman went missing at Lake Nakuru National Park.

This follows a resolution reached during a meeting chaired by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, where the committee engaged officials from the Kenya Fisheries Service and NEMA to deliberate on a petition regarding the missing fisherman.

In its resolution, the committee directed the Ministry of Interior and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to commence an immediate search operation to establish the whereabouts of one of the missing fishermen and to assist the affected families.

“The relevant bodies must act swiftly to establish whether the missing person is alive or dead and also assist the affected families accordingly,” Dullo said.

In its resolution, the committee also reaffirmed its previous resolution banning fishing activities around Lake Nakuru, citing a NEMA report declaring fish from Lake Nakuru unfit for human consumption.

The Kenya Fisheries Service has been directed to carry out fresh sampling and analysis of the fish in the lake, then submit a report within two weeks to ascertain the current state of safety.

NEMA directed to conduct an audit on licences

On the issue of environmental compliance, NEMA has been directed to carry out an audit of all factories and other establishments within Nakuru County, especially regarding the discharge of waste and the issuance of licenses, with clear instructions to revoke the licenses of those that are not compliant.

The Fisheries Department has been asked to carry out a verification exercise in the field within one week to confirm the reports of the ongoing practice of illegal fishing in the lake, which they had earlier disputed.

The Senate raised a concern, however, as the senators indicated that they had received reports from other members who said they had personally seen the fishing going on in the lake, which raised a question about the reports they received.

The committee indicated, however, that other stakeholders, including the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, as well as those from the Ministry of Interior, will be summoned as the investigation continues.

There are also plans to carry out a joint field visit to the lake involving all the agencies, focusing on the state of the environment, safety, and security conditions.

All the agencies are expected to submit progress reports within the stipulated timeframe as the Senate continues to intensify its oversight on the issue.