President William Ruto’s senior economic adviser Moses Kuria has promised the family of a four-year-old boy mauled by a hyena in Juja compensation within six months.
Kuria, who visited the family on Saturday, said the incident represents a new and disturbing trend of human-animal conflict in the area that never existed previously.
“Historically, hyenas and humans in this area coexisted peacefully,’’ Kuria said.
The boy was mauled at Flat Estate, Nyacaba area of Weitethie, Juja Constituency in Kiambu county.
The former public service cabinet secretary said the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has now identified a new, aggressive species of hyenas that poses a threat to humans.
“These hyenas are primarily found around abandoned quarries and uncontrolled dump sites in the area, which have become their hiding grounds as they feed on food remnants at night and seek refuge during the day," Kuria said.
The ex-CS said that he had requested the Nema to address the issue of abandoned quarries and illegal dump sites.
He said it is also crucial that the Kiambu County Government takes decisive action to decommission abandoned quarries, saying they are responsible for quarry licensing.
“Additionally, the hyenas should be relocated to a remote area by KWS,’’ Kuria said.
Kuria was accompanied by Joseph Dadacha, KWS Senior Assistant Director of the Southern Conservation Area.
Dadacha is leading a team of KWS rangers to capture and relocate the hyenas in the Juja area to ensure resident safety.
Kuria said local reports show that there have been eight fatalities and three injuries attributed to hyena attacks since 2017.
Cecilia Mbugua, the Assistant County Commissioner for Weitethie Division, was also present during Kuria’s visit.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has directed the Kenya Wildlife Service to move swiftly and stop further hyena attacks in Juja
Noting that the attacks were worrying, Miano directed KWS rangers to patrol the affected area.
“It is the commitment of my mind to uphold every human life with the preciousness it deserves.”
