Nairobi County’s Citizen Engagement and Customer Care head, Geoffrey Mosiria, is seeking answers following the killing of a large snake in the city’s Central Business District. The incident occurred on Sunday evening around 7:00 pm near the Kencom area. Mosiria raised concerns about the presence of such a reptile in the city without the apparent knowledge of the Kenya Wildlife Service.
“This is not a small lizard from ushago, my people. This is a proper snake. Now the big question is: how do you tame an animal this big, and KWS is not aware of it? Or are we now keeping snakes in bedsitters like pets?” Mosiria questioned on his social media pages.
He offered condolences to the snake’s owner, acknowledging the loss, but emphasized the need for public accountability. “First, my condolences to the owner. Loss is loss. But again, why keep such a reptile in the middle of the CBD? Ama ndio ilikuwa inachunga biashara?”
Who is Responsible for the Snake?
Mosiria urged the public to assist in identifying the owner, highlighting the potential safety risks posed by keeping dangerous reptiles within the city. “If anyone knows the owner of this snake, kindly let us know so that we can visit his premises and confirm how many more snakes are remaining,” he said. He stressed that the presence of such animals in urban areas must be monitored to protect residents.
“Nairobi residents deserve to know whether we are sharing the city with humans only or humans and reptiles. Anyway, help me locate the owner,” Mosiria added.
This incident has sparked discussions about urban wildlife management and the responsibilities of pet owners, especially those keeping exotic or potentially dangerous animals in residential or commercial areas. The killing of the snake has raised questions about public safety, regulatory oversight, and awareness of wildlife laws among Nairobi residents.
As city officials continue to investigate, the focus remains on locating the owner and ensuring that no other large reptiles are living unchecked in the CBD. Mosiria’s call for information aims to prevent similar situations in the future while educating the public about the importance of proper wildlife handling and reporting.
The city now faces an urgent conversation about coexisting safely with urban wildlife, enforcing regulations, and ensuring that residents are not put at risk by privately kept dangerous animals.
By Lucky Anyanje