By Gitonga Njeru
NAIVASHA, Kenya (AlertNet) Â? An upsurge in muggings, robberies, carjackings and other crimes in this Rift Valley town is being blamed on a novel cause: fishermen who have lost their livelihoods to climate change.
Dropping water levels and rising temperatures have dramatically reduced fish catches in Lake Naivasha, scientists say, leading to rising frustration and forcing fishermen to look for other ways to support their families.
And while some are turning to new occupations, at least a share have turned to crime to survive, according to researchers from the University of Nairobi and senior Kenyan law enforcement officers.
"The fish trade is no longer as lucrative as it once was. It is very obvious that many leave that career very frustrated. In turn, they take out their anger on the rest of society," said Eric Kiraithe, a Kenya Police spokesman.
While climate change is not the sole cause of Naivasha's problems Â? overuse of lake water for irrigation, overfishing and pesticide runoff also are playing a role Â? scientists say it is playing a big role in the crime surge.
"Over the years, the water levels in the lake have declined due to effects of climate change and as a result the breeding patterns of fish have been negatively affected, resulting in low catches by the fishermen," said Makumi Mwagiru, director of the Institute of Diplomacy at the University of Nairobi, which has carried out an analysis of the emerging problem in Naivasha.
Now, "lack of resources, such as in this case fish, has led to an increase in crime," he said.
FISHERMEN TRY HAND AT CRIME
Naivasha, an hour's drive from Nairobi, has seen a surge in kidnappings, rape, robberies and other crimes, and police records from the Naivasha police station confirm that most recent arrests have been of fishermen.
Ten arrests a week are now being made involving fishermen, officials at the station confirmed.
Fishermen confirm that making a living on the lake has grown increasingly difficult as fish stocks disappear.
"About five years ago, I would make a good income from tilapia catches and my family never used to go hungry even a single day. Now life is hard. The numbers of fishermen all competing for few available resources is on the increase," said John Wanyamah, 60, a father of eight, who recently left fishing to try his hand at brick making.
Ten years ago, he said, he would routinely catch at least a dozen tilapias a day, each weighing more than a kilogram, which was plenty to feed his family.
But "to find such good catches nowadays is almost unheard of," he said.
As a result, "a section of fishermen have formed cartels to avoid competition and keep new fishermen from getting into the trade. One may even get killed by fellow fishermen if you are found fishing within their regular territory. They see you as a threat to their livelihood," Wanyamah said.
"Those who attempt have been tortured and beaten and sometimes I have witnessed some of my colleagues die while being beaten. Five months ago, I decided to leave fishing altogether and focus on other trades," he said.
Wanyamah has now turned to making bricks for the construction industry, which he says brings at least a little income for himself and his immediate family.
Kamau Wa Muthoni, another former fisherman, is now unemployed and trying to win a $12,000 government loan to launch a fish farming operation on his small farm.
"I look forward to getting into my old fish business without so much stress," he said.
COMPETITORS FOR WATER ONE TARGET
Others, however, out of anger or desperation have turned to crime rather than new occupations. Naivaisha's flower farms Â? which grow blooms for export overseas Â? have been a particular target, not least because they are believed to be contributing to the problems fishermen face by using large quantities of water for irrigation, which has contributed to dropping water levels in Lake Naivasha.
Overuse of water is "forcing fishermen to retaliate and even attack people who work in that industry," said a Naivasha police official, who did not want to be named.
"Large-scale flower farmers are usually targets of fishermen attacks," he said.
Agrochemicals that filter into the lake from flower and other nearby farming operations also are blamed for contributing to the reduction of once abundant tilapia and Nile perch stocks in the lake.
Wanyamah believes the government needs to come up with programs to improve the state of the lake in order to protect livelihoods, reduce crime and keep fish on local tables.
According to John Shilitswa, a fish trader in Naivasha, the price of fish has more than doubled in recent years because demand now surpasses supply. Fish in lakeside Naivasha now costs twice as much as in hilly Nairobi, he said.
"Fishermen Â? have increased prices. They have taken advantage of the already short supplies. In return, we charge the customer more for the fish," Shilitswa said.
KIDNAPPINGS IN NAIROBI
The emerging crime wave has spread well beyond Naivasha, police say. Kiraithe, the Kenya Police spokesman, said his department is now investigating five cases of kidnappings believed carried out by unemployed fishermen from Naivasha.
A share of the fishermen are now moving to Nairobi, where some of the crimes have been committed, he said. Kidnapping, in particular, is popular because criminals think it is the quickest way to make big money, he said.
Nigel Hunter, executive director of the East African Wildlife Society, said his organization is discussing with the Kenyan government ways to partner to restore water levels at Lake Naivasha.
"The lake might cease to exist in the next 20 years as climate change continues to take effect. Apart from flower farms using most of the water for irrigation, the temperatures are rising by the day," he said.
"If we're not careful, the lake might become a seasonal water body. We are already meeting with government officials to discuss how an effective policy to combat climate change can be developed," he said.
The lake, which once covered 81 square miles, has been reduced in size by about half in less than a decade, scientists say.
The number of tourists who once flocked to the lake to see wildlife has also been falling recently, officials said, as birds, crocodiles and other species dependent on its dwindling fish stocks have declined in number.
John Mututho, a member of parliament from Naivasha, said the government plans to give area fishermen and farmers loans to construct fish ponds, and will push to restock Lake Naivasha with fish before the end of the year.
To access loans, farmers and fishermen will be required to have collateral or otherwise show that they will be able to pay back the loans within a 20 year period, he said.
"Climate change has had serious effects on Lake Naivasha including the water levels and the fish. I have raised this issue in parliament and action is being taken. We plan to restock the lake with at least 1 million fish before December," he said in an interview.
Mwagiru, of the University of Nairobi, agreed that simply cracking down on criminals will do little to ease Naivasha's problems.
"Arresting and prosecuting fishermen will not solve the problem. The way forward is dialogue and finding alternative means of livelihood for many Naivasha residents. As a society, we have to live with climate change," he said.
Gitonga Njeru is a science journalist based in Nairobi.
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