It has been nearly eight decades since the house crow was first sighted in Kenya. By June 2024, its population in the country was estimated at over one million. Among the factors contributing to this population boom, the abundance of open garbage is significant.

“The crow loves garbage,” says Hamisi Mwandaro, the municipal manager of Ukunda in Kwale County.

“This is both good and bad. Good, because it helps remove harmful materials from the environment—materials that could cause diseases. Bad, because the crow is an invasive species that harms biodiversity and is destructive to poultry,” he adds.