Grief has swept through the community of Juja after a middle-aged woman was mauled to death by a clan of hyenas early Wednesday morning.....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Nancy Njoki, a local food vendor, was on her way to work around 6am when the hyenas attacked, dragging her into the bushes and severely mauling her head, torso, and back.
“This is a tragedy we cannot bear,” narratedHellen Mukami, a local resident. “Nancy was just trying to make a living, and now she’s gone because of these animals.”
Residents, led by Mukami and Allan Mburu, expressed their frustration and anger towards local leaders and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). Despite efforts by KWS to relocate the hyenas to protected areas, the animals continue to roam the villages, posing a grave danger to the community.
“The authorities have failed us,” stated Mburu, a boda boda operator. “I see these hyenas almost every morning when I head to work. It’s terrifying, especially thinking about our children.”
This fatal attack on Njoki is not an isolated incident. Earlier this year, 10-year-old Dennis Teya was also mauled to death by hyenas in the neighbouring Gwa Kigwi village. Numerous residents have suffered injuries, and the community’s livestock has not been spared either.
“The quarries and bushes left behind by investors have become breeding grounds for these hyenas,” Mukami added. “Our children’s safety is at risk, especially with schools reopening soon. We need immediate action.”
Lethal attacks by hyenas have plagued the residents of Kiambu’s Juja subcounty, with dozens of lives lost to these predators. Many survivors have been left with severe, lifelong injuries, adding to the growing alarm in the community.
The situation is rapidly deteriorating, with locals living in constant fear and urgently calling for Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) to ramp up efforts and provide swift compensation for the victims. Though hyenas are primarily nocturnal, they have increasingly become a menace in the early morning hours as well.
Hyena clans have been terrorising various villages, including Nyacaba, Malaba, Athi, Juja Farm, Muthaara, Magomano, and Mukuyu, in Witeithie and Kalimoni wards. Their relentless attacks have inflicted widespread chaos and fear among the residents.
The residents lament that this ongoing threat has forced them to close their businesses early out of fear of attacks.
“Every day feels like a battle for survival,” said Mburu. “We can’t live like this. The KWS must intensify the relocation efforts they began last December.”
Local authorities have come under heavy scrutiny, with residents pointing an accusing finger at them for the delayed response and slow progress in addressing the hyena menace. The community believes that swift and effective action could have prevented Njoki’s death and saved many others from the jaws of these predators.
“We need our leaders to step up,” Mukami insisted. “It’s their responsibility to ensure our safety. How many more lives must be lost before they take this seriously..CONTINUE READING>>
