IN a chilling incident near a university outside Kenya’s capital, marauding hyenas claimed the life of one man and left two others wounded, stirring outrage among students who decried the perceived lack of security in the area. The attack occurred late Monday on a road bordering Nairobi National Park in Ongata Rongai, sending shockwaves through the community.
Expressing their concern, Ochieng Kefah, a student at Multimedia University, stated, ‘The university is not safe because we are near the national park. The government should, maybe, put some restrictions on the movement of the animals.’
Among the injured was 21-year-old engineering student Kevin Mwendwa, who tragically lost a thumb in the harrowing encounter. Prompted by the incident, hundreds of students took to the streets in protest on Tuesday, disrupting traffic as they demanded heightened security measures.
Kaaji Lesian, cousin of the victim Anthony Pasha, recounted the harrowing ordeal, saying, ‘The hyena came, it attacked him, chased him from the forest, put him down here. He left his firewood exactly where you are seeing them … down there.’
Responding to the escalating threat posed by marauding hyenas, authorities swiftly took action. ‘The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) dispatched its Problem Animal Management Unit team to investigate the scene and mitigate further risks,’ confirmed a KWS spokesperson.
In line with efforts to prevent future attacks, the KWS issued guidelines on how to respond when confronted by these predators. These guidelines, released in January, underscore the importance of standing firm in the face of danger and appearing intimidating to deter the animals.
The recent incident follows a tragic pattern of wildlife attacks in the region, including the death of 10-year-old Dennis Teya in Kiambu County, north of Nairobi. As authorities grapple with the aftermath of these disturbing events, calls for enhanced security measures resonate louder than ever, highlighting the pressing need to safeguard communities from the growing threat of wildlife encounters.