Nakuru fish vendors battle bad PR after reports of poisonous Lake Nakuru fish
Fish on display at Winnie's fish point in Shabab area on March 13, 2024.
Over the past few weeks there has been talk in Nakuru over the fish that is from Lake Nakuru and how it is not fit for human consumption.
This is after the authorities ascertained that the fish contained 32 percent arsenic metal which when one is exposed to will lead to cancer, diabetes and many other health complications.
This fact has had a ripple effect on the various fish vendors who are within Nakuru town.
Rosemary Oyuga sorting out fish at her stall in Shabab on March 13, 2024.
We got to speak to Rosemary Oyuga who has been a fish vendor in Nakuru city for more than 20 years.
"I have to admit that indeed we are doing very poorly in terms of business. Personally, I get my fish from Lake Victoria and as of now a kilogram of fish goes for sh. 450. When I sell it, I have to factor in all the logistics such as transport while also looking to make a profit. I therefore sell fish according to the size starting from sh. 200" she says.
At first, when the fish from Lake Nakuru came about, Rosemary says people would go and buy it, as it was much cheaper than the ones that she was selling. This too posed a threat to her business.
"Now that it has been declared unfit for human consumption it is kind of dealing a somewhat of a double blow to me since now customers do not believe that my fish is not from Lake Nakuru but from Lake Victoria. Also adding to the fact that I sell it at a much more expensive price, they would easily shy away," she says.
We also got to speak to Winnie Atieno who also admits that indeed there has been a decline in business ever since people suspected that they are selling fish from Lake Nakuru.
Customers purchasing fish at a fish stall in Shabab on March 13, 2024.
"I used to have high traffic in my hotel and the sales that I made were impressive but of late there has been a decline but we are trying to cope. I purchase my fish from Lake Victoria and it is very costly and therefore owing to the fact that we are experiencing hard economic times, many people find it had to purchase the fish," she says.
Just like Rosemary she also sells her fish according to the desired size of the customer.
We also got to chat with Rachael Rita one of the fish vendor's at Winnie's Fish Point who got to share with us a secret of how one can distinguish fish from Lake Nakuru from that in Lake Victoria.
Rachael Rita at her place of work on March 13, 2024.
"Fish from Lake Victoria is fleshier and heavier as compared to that of Lake Nakuru. Fish from Lake Nakuru is not as fleshy. You can find it looking big but it doesn't weigh much," she said.
Maybe for those who consume fish they may look out for this point of difference next time they are out buying fish.