"He blends in with this marginalised community in every way but one: the wild birds surrounding him. Many people feel unsafe when approached by us, they will even hide their phones, Magutha says about the general public's reaction to his street family. But when they see the birds, everything changes They come over to pet them, take photos. Someone who looked angry a moment ago is suddenly smiling."
"Magutha has been rescuing and caring for birds since childhood, and for years on Nairobi's streets. Yet he remained a largely obscure figure until last year, when thousands of young people flooded the central business district to protest against rising costs and government corruption. Images of Magutha went viral, lifting him to local celebrity status as the Nairobi Birdman. Still, few know the story"
Rodgers Oloo Magutha lives on Nairobi's streets and rescues and cares for wild birds, which gather around him and attract public attention. The presence of the birds changes people's reactions, turning fear into curiosity as passersby pet and photograph them. Magutha has rescued birds since childhood and has sustained a long-term companionship with them through loss and adversity. Viral images during mass protests elevated him to local celebrity status as the Nairobi Birdman, though his life remains shaped by homelessness and resilience. He dreams of one day opening a bird shelter and continues to care for his street family.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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