The man, who has gained online fame for his close bond with wild birds, dismissed warnings that his habits pose a serious health risk to the public.
The debate began after Dennis Miskellah, the Deputy Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), took to social media to call for government intervention.
A Doctor’s Warning
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Dr Miskellah expressed his alarm over videos showing the man sharing meals with avian scavengers. He tagged the Ministry of Health, urging them to take action.
"Dear @MOH_Kenya, there is this character in FB who lives with wild birds, including scavengers, and eats with them from the same plate. While this looks funny, it won't be funny when he contracts and spreads zoonotic diseases. Kindly send public health officers to advise him accordingly, coz we are not ready to pay for his folly with our lives!!"
"Nature Wastes Nothing"
The Nairobi Birdman, who frequently posts updates of his interactions with crows and marabou storks, did not take the criticism quietly. He used his own social media platform to defend his actions and his health.
"People say I'll get sick eating with birds. Yet I eat among them, even at dumping sites where they feed on thrown-away food, and we're still doing fine.🦅 Nature wastes nothing,” he captioned one photo in company of wild birds in his house.
He often portrays his relationship with the birds as a harmonious part of the natural world, despite the urban setting of his videos.
Who is the Nairobi Birdman?
The man is a resident often seen in Nairobi’s city centre and near the Dandora dumpsite. He has become a local celebrity, often surrounded by dozens of birds that appear to follow his commands.
The Public Health Debate
The core of the issue lies in the hygiene of sharing food with wild scavengers. Marabou storks and crows are known to frequent dumpsites, where they may come into contact with various pathogens.
