The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Tragedy has struck Gwa Kigwi village in Juja, Kiambu County, as a 10-year-old boy fell victim to a fatal hyena mauling.
Dennis Teya, a Grade 4 pupil, was walking home with friends when marauding hyenas attacked them on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred despite a team of 20 Kenya Wildlife Service officers actively searching for these aggressive animals in villages within Witeithie and Kalimoni wards due to a series of deadly attacks.
The crackdown was initiated last month after hyenas attacked and killed a woman in Nyacaba village during her early morning commute to work. Prior to this, the same pack had claimed the life of a 9-year-old boy.
According to the village elder, Joseph Thiga, the hyenas dragged the boy to a nearby swamp, where they consumed him before being chased away by locals.
Thiga expressed deep concern for the safety of the village, noting that the fearless hyenas, possibly crossbreeds of hyenas and leopards, have been roaming the area in the evenings and mornings.
Residents are living in fear, especially with schools set to reopen, and they appeal to authorities to intensify efforts to locate and remove these dangerous animals.
Kiambu County warden Fredrick Kisera reported that they have increased efforts by installing more traps across the villages, capturing over 10 hyenas so far. He urged parents to be vigilant and ensure their children are indoors after dusk.
MP George Koimburi, along with ward representatives Geoffrey Mucheke and Mwibiri Ngugi, called for more KWS officers to join the operation. Koimburi also requested the Ministry of Education to adjust school hours in affected villages to 8 am, considering the hyenas’ activity even in the morning.
The leaders advocated for quarry owners to secure their sites, as they believe ditches are breeding and hiding places for these animals. They expressed frustration at the loss of innocent lives and called for a collective effort to put an end to these tragic incidents. MCA Mwibiri assured the community of support in burial preparations and emphasized the need for justice for the victim, stating that this should be the last death caused by a wild animal in the area.
