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Kenya’s Ambassador to Namibia Benjamin Langat is on the spot after photos of him allegedly hunting wild animals emerged on the internet.
The photos were shared on social media platforms on Monday, August 30, showing Langat holding a rifle with one hand and the horn of a dead Greater Kudu with the other hand.
Many Kenyans have accused the diplomat of misrepresenting Kenya’s policies of hunting wild animals.
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Kenyan Ambassador to Namibia Benjamin Langat under fire for engaging in game hunting
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Kenya banned sport hunting — killing of wildlife for recreation and trophy collection — in 1977 after it led to dwindling game numbers due to excessive hunting. However, Namibia allows the sport.
Kenya has strict anti-poaching laws aimed at deterring illegal trading in ivory, elephant tusks, rhino horns among other animal trophies.
“Even with the legal practice Namibia has on game hunting practice…for a Kenyan Ambassador Hon Benjamin Langat to participate, is an embarrassment to our motherland Kenya standing next to a killed Kudu,” Elizabeth Wathuti an environmentalist argued.
She added that despite being legal in Namibia, Langat was supposed to represent Kenya whose policies don’t allow it.
“We have an official position about wildlife conservancy in Kenya. Our ambassadors are supposed to be representing our national policies in the countries they are seconded to,” Kyrgitt Kalya said.
“There is no problem with Benjamin Langat killing an animal for fun! Life is for fun. Suppose the animal was hunted by a lion? If Namibia allows the same, he should have fun,” Emmanuel Kigen defended.
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A man posing with his game trophy in Namibia
Namibia allows game hunting for approximately Sh700 per licence.
Rules for the Namibia 2021 Game Hunting season
There are prescribed limitations regarding the number of huntable game animals that may be hunted by a single hunter on a commercial farm or farms which is/are enclosed with an adequate fence during a hunting season as follows
A total of three (3) large game animals; or
A total of two (2) large game and four (4) small game
animals; or
A total of one (1) large game and eight (8) small game
animals; or
A total of twelve (12) small game animals.
No person shall hunt more than one (1) kudu during the hunting season