The objective of this study was to assess the heavy metal concentrations in tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum) cultivated in horticultural farms of Nakuru County, Kenya. Tomatoes samples were randomly collected from selected areas in Njoro, Naivasha, Nakuru East, Nakuru West, Subukia, Rongai and Gilgil sub-counties. The samples were collected in clean polythene ziplock bags and stored frozen at –10 o C. In the laboratory, the samples were sliced and dried to constant weight in an oven at 700C. They were then ground separately using an electric miller to pass through a 150-μm sieve and preserved in khaki bags for further analysis using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The overall mean ranges of concentrations of heavy metals were: 0.23±0.00–0.38±0.06 mg/kg for Cu; 0.18±0.00–0.31±0.02 mg/kg for Zn; 0.69±0.20–0.91±0.01 mg/kg for Cr; 0.08±0.00–0.13±0.01 mg/kg for Mn and 0.71±0.05–0.87±0.04 mg/kg for Fe. The results indicated that the levels of heavy metals in tomatoes were within the WHO accepted levels. Also, there was a significant difference (p≤0.05) in the levels of Zn and Mn in tomatoes across 7 regions. These findings suggest that while overall heavy metal levels in tomatoes are deemed safe for consumption, localized factors may influence metal accumulation, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and localized interventions to ensure food safety. The study recommends that there need to implement routine monitoring programs to assess heavy metal concentrations in tomatoes and other agricultural produce from Nakuru County. Continuous surveillance will help identify any emerging trends or localized contamination issues.
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