KWS holds meeting with village elders over Juja hyena menace

By Peter Ochieng

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) team in Juja on Saturday convened a crucial meeting with village elders in Makongeni, to address the escalating hyena menace in the area.

Both parties agreed to collaborate closely by promptly notifying KWS of any hyena sightings, and providing essential information on the animal’s dens to ensure swift and effective intervention.

“This joint initiative reflects a unified commitment to addressing the challenges posed by hyenas and safeguarding the local community in Kiambu County. The meeting will be followed by the immediate rollout of a Nyumba Kumi sensitization program,” KWS said in a statement.

On Wednesday last week, a 5-year-old boy was tragically killed by hyenas in Juja, Kiambu County. It marked the third fatal hyena attack in the area within a month. The child had reportedly been sent to a nearby shopping centre around 7 p.m when the attack occurred.

Locals called for immediate government intervention, amid promises that the situation is being addressed. A day after the attack, residents blocked both sides of Thika Road at Ndarugu, accusing the government and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) of inaction.

About a month before the incident, Deputy President (D) Rigathi Gachagua vowed to ensure that security personnel would be dispatched to the area, to address the growing threat posed by the animals.

He linked the increase in hyena attacks to abandoned quarries in the area.

"According to the KWS Director-General, the abandoned quarry sites are contributing to the hyena problem. We are deeply concerned by these deaths and will send a team to capture and relocate the hyenas. Additionally, the quarries themselves pose security risks and serve as mosquito breeding grounds," he said.

Kiambu governor Paul Kimani Wamatangi and Juja Member of Parliament (MP) George Koimburi, are among leaders who have severally called on the government and KWS to address the situation.