- They cautioned the public to limit movement at night and dispose of waste properly to avoid attracting hyenas.
- KWS further called on the residents to refrain from tampering with traps set for the animals.
Image: FILE
The Kenya Wildlife Service has issued an advisory to residents after a hyena reportedly killed a five-year-old boy in Juja.
The incident prompted angry locals to stage a protest on Thursday, blocking the busy Thika Highway for hours.
KWS extended their condolences to the family of the deceased, saying the incident is regrettable.
The Service said it is intensifying efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in the area.
"Wildlife management remains challenging, with a significant proportion of wildlife residing outside protected areas, often seasonally," a statement by KWS read.
KWS said a specialised team has been deployed to manage the current situation, with the operation proceeding in two phases.
They include hyena management and community engagement to educate residents on safety measures.
They cautioned the public to limit movement at night and dispose of waste properly to avoid attracting hyenas.
KWS further called on the residents to refrain from tampering with traps set for the animals.
To address the hyena threat, KWS launched Operation OndoaFisi-2 on August 8, 2024, following a similar incident in Juja.
The operation was a buildup on a previous initiative from November 2023 to tackle rising hyena attacks.
The operation has seen KWS successfully track, capture, and relocate 38 hyenas. They sealed 12 quarries used as hideouts by the hyenas.
Early this year, a 10-year-old Dennis Teya was mauled to death by hyenas in the neighbouring Gwa Kigwi village.
Residents said failure by quarry miners to refill excavated areas and clear bushes has attracted wild animals that stray from nearby national parks.
They said quarries provide safe breeding and hiding abodes for the hyenas.
Most of the affected areas in Juja South are Nyacaba, Witeithia, Maraba, and Kabati in Juja, Kiambu County.
Such attacks are common in the area amid calls for KWS to take action and manage the same.
This is part of the wildlife-human conflict that is common in places near national parks.
Many wild animals stray from major parks to villages.
KWS has mounted a campaign to address the menace, which includes fencing the areas.
The government and conservation groups have a compensation program for people and herders whose livestock is killed by wild animals.