Kenya’s Viral ‘Birdman’ Worries Health Officials

July 6, 2026

Rodgers Oloo Magutha, 28, popularly known as Nairobi Birdman, balances a Black Kite on his head as he prepares to collect plastic at a dumpsite in Kayole, a low-income neighbourhood on the outskirts of Nairobi, on July 4, 2026. Once a homeless teenager surviving on the streets of Nairobi, Rodgers Oloo Magutha, 28, popularly known as the "Nairobi Birdman, has transformed himself into one of Kenya's most unusual grassroots conservationists. Living in a modest one-room house in Nairobi's Kayole neighbourhood, Magutha has gained widespread attention for rescuing injured and orphaned wild birds from crows, pigeons and owls to black kites and other raptors which he rehabilitates and, whenever possible, releases back into the wild, while others remain under his care. His viral social media videos, showing him feeding the birds from the same plate, allowing them to roam freely inside his home and walking through the city with flocks of birds following him, have turned him into a neighbourhood celebrity. To support himself and the birds, Magutha earns a living collecting recyclable plastic from dumpsites and cleaning waste from Nairobi's rivers, saying the work reflects his commitment to protecting the environment. His unconventional approach to caring for wild birds has also brought him into conflict with Kenyan authorities, who argue that keeping protected wildlife in a residential area poses legal and public health concerns, while supporters see his work as a rare example of individual dedication to urban wildlife conservation despite his limited means. (Photo by Luis TATO / AFP)

A formerly homeless man in Nairobi has become a viral sensation after years of rescuing and living with injured birds, but authorities are worried about disease risks.

Rodgers Oloo Magutha found purpose and an escape from the depression of living on the streets by caring for his avian friends.

By 2024, he was living in central Nairobi when massive protests erupted all around him, and images of Magutha walking calmly through the unrest with a kite on his head made him an internet sensation.

He now has a one-room home on the outskirts of the city, as well as tens of thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram who watch him living alongside kites, crows, storks and many other birds.

They wander freely around his home, and flock around him as he walks through the streets where he earns a modest living from collecting scrap and recycling.

“I love rescuing birds,” he told AFP, describing himself as an “urban bird enthusiast”.

They love him in return. He has rescued more than 20, including a marabou stork, cattle egret, African sacred ibis, and a barn owl, who have all become companions over the years.

Lately, however, his passion has drawn criticism.

Nairobi city officials called on him to release his current companions after a video of him eating with them from the same plate raised fears of a health hazard.

Rodgers Oloo Magutha, 28, popularly known as Nairobi Birdman, caresses some of the wild birds under his care before feeding them at his one-room apartment in Kayole, a low-income neighbourhood on the outskirts of Nairobi, on July 4, 2026. Once a homeless teenager surviving on the streets of Nairobi, Rodgers Oloo Magutha, 28, popularly known as the “Nairobi Birdman, has transformed himself into one of Kenya’s most unusual grassroots conservationists. Living in a modest one-room house in Nairobi’s Kayole neighbourhood, Magutha has gained widespread attention for rescuing injured and orphaned wild birds from crows, pigeons and owls to black kites and other raptors which he rehabilitates and, whenever possible, releases back into the wild, while others remain under his care. His viral social media videos, showing him feeding the birds from the same plate, allowing them to roam freely inside his home and walking through the city with flocks of birds following him, have turned him into a neighbourhood celebrity. To support himself and the birds, Magutha earns a living collecting recyclable plastic from dumpsites and cleaning waste from Nairobi’s rivers, saying the work reflects his commitment to protecting the environment. His unconventional approach to caring for wild birds has also brought him into conflict with Kenyan authorities, who argue that keeping protected wildlife in a residential area poses legal and public health concerns, while supporters see his work as a rare example of individual dedication to urban wildlife conservation despite his limited means. (Photo by Luis TATO / AFP)

Magutha dismissed the concerns.

“I’ve been living on the streets where we’ve been eating together, we’ve been sleeping together in the cold, but nothing ever happened to me,” he told AFP.

He also insisted that the birds are free to leave whenever they are ready.

“The mission started for me to rescue them, to give them a safe space where they can stay without any disturbance, where they can feel free,” he said.

“When they are ready to be released, I release them.”

But health officials are concerned, with the Kenya Medical Research Institute warning that prolonged contact with wild animals is restricted due to the disease risk.

Magutha said he should instead be appreciated for his public service.

“I spread my awareness of conservation through entertainment,” he said.

“I am one of a kind in this country… We can show people that everything is possible… that humans can coexist with nature,” he added.

Author

Jimisayo Opanuga

Jimisayo Opanuga is a web writer in the Digital Department at News Central TV, where she covers African and international stories. Her reporting focuses on social issues, health, justice, and the environment, alongside general-interest news. She is passionate about telling stories that inform the public and give voice to underreported communities.