- The locals said that failure by sand harvesters in Baruti Location to refill mined quarries and clear bushes attracted the wild animals to residential areas.
- Tourism and Wildlife CS Rebecca Miano directed the Kenya Wildlife Service to move swiftly and stop further hyena attacks in the country in August.
Image: FILE
Residents of Baraka estate in Nakuru are living in fear after a lone hyena was spotted several times roaming the area at night.
The hyena is said to have caused fear and panic among the residents in the past two days after it was spotted roaming freely at night in several neighbourhoods.
The wild animal, which has forced the residents to restrict their movements at night, is suspected to have strayed from Lake Nakuru National Park.
Ann Kurgat, a resident, explained how she encountered the animal on a feeder road to the Nakuru-Kisumu-Eldoret highway when driving home at night.
“Most of us have minimised our night movements lest you encounter the animal,” Kurgat said.
Kurgat implored the Kenya Wildlife Service to track down the animal and transfer it to the Lake Nakuru National Park or elsewhere to avert deaths.
She expressed concern over the safety of children as they leave early in the morning for school when the hyena is still roaming the area.
The residents said that the failure of sand harvesters in the Baruti location to refill mined quarries and clear bushes attracted wild animals to residential areas.
The quarries outside protected areas have been singled out as havens that provide safe breeding and hiding havens to hyenas.
Nakuru Deputy County Police Commander Ezekiel Chepkwony said they were yet to receive reports about the stray hyena, but pledged that police would liaise with the Kenya Wildlife Service to investigate the matter.
He called on residents who had sighted the animal to urgently report to the nearest police station
“As security agencies, we have not received any official report on the sighting of the stray animal, nonetheless, we appeal to the public to restrain from walking at night, especially near forests, bushes and quarries,” he added.
Chepkwony said it was unheard of for hyenas to stray into people’s settlement areas and cautioned residents to beware of the animal as security personnel move into action.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano directed the Kenya Wildlife Service to move swiftly and stop further hyena attacks in the country in August.
KWS announced it is intensifying efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in the country
The agency launched Operation Ondoa Fisi-2 on August 8, 2024 following hyena attacks in Juja. It is a buildup on a previous initiative from November 2023 to tackle rising hyena attacks.
Since the start of Operation Ondoa Fisi-2, KWS has successfully tracked, captured and relocated 38 hyenas and sealed 12 quarries where the animals hid.
KWS said it is committed to working with relevant authorities to address and rehabilitate abandoned quarries within the country and ensure the safety of all residents.
“We remain steadfast in ensuring the safety and well-being of Kenyans and urge anyone who spots problematic wildlife to immediately report the sighting through the KWS 24/7 hotline 0800 597 000 or WhatsApp number +254 726610509, ” KWS stated.
Cases of hyena attacks in Kenya are said to have dominated over the past few days, with reports now being attributed to overpopulation of the wild animals.
According to former Tourism CS Alfred Mutua, hyenas started overpopulating during the dry season last year as they feasted on carcasses of other animals that succumbed to drought.