Kenya's Ambassador to Namibia Benjamin Lagat is on the spot after a photo of him standing next to a dead wild animal went viral.
Kenyans are calling for the dismissal of the ambassador arguing that he went against Kenya's fight to conserve wildlife.
The photo, which went viral on Monday, August 30, showed Lagat, who is wearing a jungle jacket, smiling while holding the dead Greater Kudu's horn will resting a sniper rifle on its front limbs.
There was blood spilled next to the animal in the vast savanna spread believed to be in Namibia.
Kenyans were dismayed with the ambassador's posture knowing that Kenya had outlawed the practice even though wildlife killing is still legal in Namibia.
"Benjamin Langat from Kericho. A Kenyan ambassador to Namibia. Busy killing animals/wildlife in Namibia. Our policy internationally is against poaching and hunting of game. He is not fit to represent Kenya internationally," a netizen complained.
"Even with the legal practice Namibia has on game hunting practice…for a Kenyan Ambassador Hon. Benjamin Langat to participate… He violates his country policy and its commitment which Kenya leads in wildlife conservation and advocate for non Consumptive practices," added Ali Yusuf Mwangi.
"This is not what we expect of our representatives abroad. Ambassador Benjamin Langat deserve to be recalled. Too sickening regardless of the Namibian laws. His duty is not to promote Namibia but Kenya," stated Gordon K'achola.
Langat served as Ainamoi MP from 2008 to 2017 when he lost the seat to incumbent Sylvanus Maritim.
Kenyans were particularly angered by the timing of the ambassador's photo which came just a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta applauded Kenya’s wildlife conservation agencies and the Ministry of Tourism for their anti-poaching efforts.
Uhuru noted that there has been a significant reduction is loss of endangered species such as elephants and rhinos.
“The reduction in losses in terms of elephants, rhinos and other endangered species is because of the great work that KWS, its officers and men are doing to ensure that the (wildlife) heritage is protected.
“(Wildlife) is our heritage, this is our children’s legacy and it is important for us to be able to know what we have in order to be better informed on policy and also on actions needed as we move forward. And it being a national heritage, it is something we should carry with pride,” stated the Head of State.
Fine for poaching and killing of wild animals in Kenya now stands at over Ksh3 million or an alternative 10-year jail term.
