The public health department has raised concerns regarding the unhealthy hawking of fish on major highways in Naivasha, describing it as a “health hazard.”
“It is shocking to see the number of people involved in the illegal sale of fish and this might lead to food-borne illnesses,” a senior official of the department, who pleaded anonymity, said.
The department urged consumers to desist from buying fish from road side hawkers, adding that even the source of the fish was questionable, and most likely unhealthy.
“We cannot even be sure where the fish has been sourced from. The unhygienic environment, notwithstanding,” the senior official added.
He said the illegal practice of hawking fish was becoming a norm, as more youths were joining the trade. He went on to encourage proper, healthy handling of fish to avoid diseases that may be detrimental to human health.
Reports have it that the Nakuru County government, in conjunction with development partners, have commenced the building of a modern fish market at Kinungi, on the Nairobi-Naivasha highway.
The Naivasha fish market according to reports, will cost Sh240 million to build. It is hoped that the market will put an end to the unhealthy fish hawking along the busy Nairobi-Nakuru highway as well as improve fish business in the region.