One man's meat is another man's poison, goes an old adage. This is the case in Nyatike in Migori County where a 35-year-old watchman has become the talk of the village after confessing that he has been feeding on reptiles.
Of his liking are Tortoises, cats and dogs.
Thomas Odembo, a father of seven not only rears chameleons, tortoises and cats but has also engaged neighbours for daily supply to maintain his stock of the rare meat.
Hivisasa caught up with him at his home in Ogongo village. Odemba resides at a house near a gold mine, where he is employed as a security guard for a Chinese mining firm. He dashes behind the house to fetch a tortoise which he excitedly notes that it would be his next meal.
Odemba, a native of Kasigunga in Homa Bay County brags of his new found delicacy that comprises snakes, lizards, turtles and cats.
“I was introduced to eating the reptiles by a Chinese friend while working as his cook and since then, I’ve never looked back. A native medicine man warned me never to take beef after I was bewitched while consuming beef,” he said.
He adds: "I got timely relief with this new menu and I often enjoy them either cooked or raw because they are not poisonous as many people are made to believe."
According to Odemba, he hunts for the animals in the nearby forests around the village and then takes them home as food. Odemaba's wife, Pauline Akoth and their seven children are, however, opposed to his weird lifestyle and he is sometimes forced to prepare his meals alone.
As an obedient wife, Akoth often helps her husband prepare a dish of tortoise, chameleon or snake and later prepares the normal food for her children. She says “ It is a challenge but we have to live with it because I love my husband and he is free to eat whatever he likes but for me, I cannot feed on that kind of food," she says amidst chuckles.
Neighbours are equally appalled by his dietary behaviour and are now forced to keep away their canines for fear of attacks by the man.
They said he borrowed the bizarre craving for the replies and dogs due to influence from his Chinese employers.
"The move may cost him since he has no license from the Kenya Wildlife Services to handle the wild animals," one of the neighbour who asks not to be named retorts.
Another one though has no problem with his craving but is quick to note that "I think Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) will soon catch up with him."
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