00:00Once homeless on the streets of Nairobi, Rogers has transformed his life through an extraordinary bond with injured birds.
00:08His rescue work has made him a viral sensation and he says caring for the feathered companions gave him purpose
00:16and helped him overcome the depression he faced while living on the streets.
00:22So for me, mine is a rescue mission.
00:25I've been with different species of birds from the marabou stock, cattle egret, hadada ibis, African sacred ibis, barn owl,
00:34nini, the pigeon, the black kites.
00:37But if you can see, I have now a few birds.
00:40That shows you that when I rescue the birds and they are willing to go or they are healthy and
00:48they need to rely on themselves, I usually release the birds.
00:51His rescued birds roam freely around his home and flock to his side.
00:56But authorities warn the growing sanctuary could pose a serious disease risk.
01:02So the call for me to release the birds or about the zoonotic disease is something which is not.
01:07Even me, I know. I know about the disease. They are there.
01:10But for me, I've been living on the streets where we've been eating together.
01:15We've been sleeping together in the cold, but nothing ever happened to me.
01:20Right now I'm working on the dumping site where I sought recyclable material.
01:27City officials have urged Rogers to release the birds after a viral video of them sharing his meal sparked health
01:34concerns.
01:35But he insists there's nothing to fear.
01:39So for me, I will tell the people issuing dread is not a solution.
01:43Empowerment is the solution.
01:44Actually, I am one of a kind in this country and Africa and the world because most of the people,
01:51they didn't know about this.
01:53We used to see something like this on TV, on movie, which is fiction.
01:57But in reality, we are to show people that everything is possible.
02:02People to learn that human, they can coexist with nature.
02:06Rogers has captivated tens of thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram with videos of his remarkable life alongside kites,
02:15crows, storks and dozens of other rescue birds.
