Authorities in Bomet have uncovered a case of illegal meat supply after a hotel was found serving flamingo meat to unsuspecting customers.
In a statement on Wednesday, September 24, the County Government of Bomet said the discovery was made during a surprise visit to the joint.
“The Department of Health Services, Public Health led by the Chief Officer for Health Felix Langat and the Director Public Health Leonard Lang’at made an impromptu visit to a hotel operating in Bomet town for an inspection and found Flamingo meat which has been a trend selling to its residents,” the statement read.
The county government confirmed that the establishment was immediately shut down and the suspect taken into custody.
“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,” the statement added.
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.
