The Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations has ordered the immediate stop of all fishing activities at Lake Nakuru, amid claims of forced disappearances of young fishermen.

The directive was issued on Tuesday by Committee Chairperson Sen. Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo) during a meeting with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Petitioners, following a petition lodged over alleged abuses at Lake Nakuru National Park.

“Any fishing at Lake Nakuru must stop immediately, KWS must ensure that there is no fishing taking place at the Lake, if based on the submission here that Nakuru fish were declared unfit for human consumption, why are people being allowed to fish and supply the condemned fish to markets, this must stop today,” directed Senator Dullo.

The petition, filed by Gaplink International, urges the Senate to intervene, investigate the reported disappearances and issue firm recommendations. The petitioners are seeking a thorough probe into the alleged incidents, particularly any involvement of KWS officers, alongside measures to strengthen community engagement and safeguard human rights.

They also called for a review of KWS policies and operational protocols to curb abuse of power and enhance accountability while fostering dialogue between the agency, local fishermen and other stakeholders to resolve disputes over fishing rights.

Gaplink International told the Committee that residents dependent on fishing for their livelihoods have faced intimidation and violence from KWS officers. They further alleged that, despite the ban, fishing activities continue unabated at the lake. The organisation was represented by Mr Tom Mboya, with Peter Mbae appearing as co-petitioner.

However, KWS, led by Director General Prof Erustus Kanga firmly rejected the allegations, maintaining that the agency does not condone human rights violations.

“KWS remains open to engaging with any specific, documented complaints that may be submitted through the appropriate channels. We have not received any formal reports, complaints, or administrative notifications of forced disappearances of young fishermen at Lake Nakuru National Park,” submitted Prof Kanga.

In reinforcing the Committee’s directive, Senator Dullo demanded an immediate halt to all fishing at the lake and called on the Petitioners to furnish further details and evidence to support their claims.

The Committee has pledged to widen its inquiry by engaging key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Interior, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the County Government of Nakuru and the Kenya Fisheries Service before compiling a comprehensive report.

Other Senators who attended the meeting were Prof Tom Ojienda SC (Kisumu), Dr Lelegwe Ltumbesi (Samburu), Okongo Mogeni (Nyamira), Abdul Haji (Garissa), Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi) and Joseph Githuku (Lamu).