The human cost of water pollution in Kenya’s lakes

By Daisy Okiring

In the early morning mist along the shores of Lake Victoria, 52-year-old Mary Achieng sits on an overturned bucket, staring at the waters that once provided for her family. “There used to be so much fish,” she says, gesturing to the silent lake. “Now… only stories remain.”

Kenya’s freshwater lakes, once vibrant and full of life, are now at the heart of a growing environmental and human crisis. From the algae-choked waters of Lake Victoria to the poisoned expanse of Lake Nakuru, pollution is suffocating ecosystems and devastating the fishing communities that depend on them.

According to Kenya’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry, over 60% of water bodies in the country are affected by pollution, with Lake Victoria and Lake Nakuru among the most impacted. In 2021 alone, fish stocks in Lake Victoria declined by over 40%, leading to widespread economic hardship, rising food insecurity, and a public health crisis that stretches beyond the water’s edge.

Lake Nakuru: A toxic mirror

Once part of a flourishing inland fishery network, Lake Nakuru is now unrecognizable. The fish are gone. The water, poisoned by untreated sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff, is a toxic brew of heavy metals and pathogens. In 2022, the Kenyan government officially banned fishing and fish consumption from the lake, citing dangerously high levels of mercury, lead, and cadmium.

Read more: Breathing easy: Nairobi’s urgent battle against air pollution

 “It was a complete ecological collapse,” says Evans Odhiambo Oketch, Nguvu Change Leader and environmental activist. “The ban may have protected people from immediate harm, but it killed the fishing economy overnight. Whole communities lost their livelihoods.”

Scientific studies by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) revealed that fish from Lake Nakuru contained metal concentrations up to 5 times the WHO safe limits, linking long-term exposure to cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and developmental disorders in children.

For many former fishermen, the loss of income forced them to migrate to urban slums or take up casual labor. “Some became boda boda riders, others went into construction. Many just gave up,” Evans notes.

Lake Victoria: Choking on progress

While Lake Nakuru’s demise was dramatic, Lake Victoria’s decline is slow and suffocating. Home to the largest freshwater fishery in Africa, Lake Victoria sustains over 30 million people across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. But overfishing, climate change, and industrial pollution are driving it toward collapse.

Satellite data shows that algae blooms—caused by nutrient pollution from agricultural runoff—have tripled in the last decade, reducing oxygen levels and causing mass fish die-offs. Compounding this is the dominance of the invasive Nile perch, a species that disrupted the native fish ecology and led to the extinction of over 200 endemic species.

But the most insidious effect has been social.

With fish stocks dwindling, a shadow economy known as “Jaboya” has emerged, where women fish traders are coerced into exchanging sex for fish from male fishermen. “It’s not just about fish. It’s about power, poverty, and survival,” explains Mary Achieng. “We’re not choosing this. We’re trapped.”

A 2023 report by UNAIDS found that HIV prevalence in some Lake Victoria shoreline communities is as high as 26%, far above the national average of 4.3%. “The link between environmental degradation and public health is no longer indirect—it’s immediate and lethal,” says Evans.

Laws on paper, pollution in practice

Kenya is often praised for its robust legal framework. The Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) and the Climate Change Act (2016) are among the most progressive in Africa. Yet implementation remains its Achilles’ heel.

Read more: How communities are protecting sacred environmental resources

“Corruption, lack of funding, and political interference have hollowed out our enforcement institutions,” Evans laments. “Polluting companies know they’ll never face consequences.”

Investigations by Transparency International Kenya reveal that over 70% of environmental fines are either reduced or not enforced at all, often due to political patronage. In many cases, factories operating near lakes discharge untreated waste into rivers and wetlands under the guise of legal compliance.

“Even when communities report these violations, they’re silenced or ignored,” says Evans. “We need independent regulatory bodies, not ones manipulated by politicians or corporate lobbyists.”

Community action and hope

Despite the grim statistics, a wave of grassroots movements and youth-led initiatives is turning despair into determination.

In Nairobi, the Nairobi Rivers Commission, launched in 2023, is working to rehabilitate urban waterways and crack down on illegal dumping. In Kisumu, the Save Lake Victoria campaign—a coalition of fisherfolk, environmentalists, and local leaders—organizes lake clean-ups, public awareness drives, and policy petitions.

“We’ve collected over 10 tonnes of plastic in just six months,” says Sharon Atieno, a 24-year-old volunteer with the campaign. “We may not fix everything, but we’re showing people that change is possible.”

International NGOs like Sanergy, Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), and EcoFinder Kenya are also playing a critical role. By introducing eco-toilets, waste management solutions, and sustainable aquaculture, they are easing pressure on the lakes and providing alternative livelihoods to displaced fishermen.

In Nakuru, elders and youth groups have turned waste collection into a profitable business. “Garbage is now a goldmine,” Evans chuckles. “It’s amazing what people can do when given the tools and support.”

The way forward: A shared responsibility

Experts agree that protecting Kenya’s lakes requires a multi-stakeholder approach: policy enforcement, corporate accountability, community involvement, and international support.

“We can’t keep treating our water bodies as dumping grounds and expect prosperity,” Evans warns. “Our lakes are life—economically, culturally, and ecologically. Lose them, and we lose everything.”

Read more: Mt Kenya’s glaciers ‘to disappear by 2030’

The government’s commitment to increase sewage treatment capacity and enforce the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) offers a glimmer of hope. But Evans insists that unless polluters are punished and communities empowered, the cycle will repeat.

For Mary and millions like her, the lake is more than just water. It’s memory, identity, and survival.

“I just want my grandchildren to know what tilapia tastes like. To fish like I did. Is that too much to ask?” she asks quietly, her eyes still scanning the grey horizon.