2000 litres of pesticides killed the fish in Lake Naivasha

11/03/2010 22:47:07 Pesticides poured into lake by ‘disgruntled' workers
Courtesy of Wildlife Direct.
March 2010. The investigation over the cause of deaths of fish in Kenya's Lake Naivasha has been shrouded in mystery. While some journalists have suggested that pesticides from the numerous of flower farms are to blame, the CEO of the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK) Professor Mbithi insisted that the fish deaths were due to lack of oxygen caused by an algal bloom, created by high levels of nutrients due to sunny conditions and floods. Flower farmers also denied that the fish deaths could have been due to their effluents, and they were supported by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and the Kenya Flower Council.

The Minister for Public Health, Beth Mugo, ordered an immediate inspection and gave flower farmers a week out sort out the problem of effluent emissions or go to court, a threat that nobody expects the minister to actually follow through with.

While the Government of Kenya promises to do toxicology tests while at the same time, defending flower farmers in the area, the Nation Media (One of Kenya's leading newspapers) carried out some interesting investigations of their own and came up with shocking findings.

They revealed that 2,000 litres of pesticides were deliberately poured into the lake, causing these fish deaths. This was done intentionally by disgruntled workers who have since been fired!