Hotel Busted Selling Flamingo Meat To Innocent Kenyans

Residents of Bomet County were left stunned after county health officials stormed a local hotel and discovered it was secretly serving flamingo meat to unsuspecting customers.

The impromptu raid, led by Health Chief Officer Felix Langat and Director of Public Health Leonard Lang’at, uncovered freshly supplied flamingo meat stored on the premises.

The operation sparked immediate outrage, with officials warning of both public health risks and the blatant illegality of the trade.

The suspect behind the hotel’s unusual menu was arrested during the sting on Wednesday, September 24. County officials explained that the crackdown followed growing reports of flamingo meat being sold to residents — a disturbing trend that not only threatens wildlife but also exposes diners to unsafe food practices.

A photo of flamingoes at Lake Nakuru. /LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK

"The suspect has been arrested for allegedly selling flamingos following a sting operation conducted early today by county officials. County officers raided the premises and discovered freshly supplied flamingo meat, raising serious public health concerns," a statement from the county government of Bomet read in part.

Chief Officer Langat issued a stern warning to other eateries that the county government will not hesitate to shut down businesses dealing in illegal and unsafe meat and that they should expect heightened surveillance and strict enforcement going forward.

“We are asking everyone who handles food, either storage, preparation, or sale, that you should have a Health Food Hygiene Licence,” he said.

Authorities have since vowed tighter monitoring of hotels and butcheries across the county, urging the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious meat sales.

This latest bust has sparked heated conversations online, with many questioning how flamingo meat ended up on dinner plates in the first place. Langat revealed that the county has recorded more than 3,500 stomach-related complaints in recent months, largely tied to contaminated food.

He further noted a worrying increase in cancer cases, attributing some of them to residents using illegal chemicals in the preparation of the traditional drink, mursik.

"People who are facing issues related to cancer, in Bomet, are increasing, and some of these are related directly to the food that they consume, and that is why moving forward, we will ensure that everyone complies with our rules," Langat said.

He advised locals to be mindful of where and what they consume to safeguard their health. At the same time, he cautioned that any business owner, operator, or supplier flouting health regulations will face prosecution.

This follows an earlier warning by the Ministry of Health, issued months ago, urging Kenyans to stay away from uninspected meat during festive seasons.

In its December 23 advisory, the Ministry also cautioned against consuming meat from dead animals due to associated health risks. Additionally, the public was reminded to keep raw and cooked food separate to prevent contamination.