- The victim, a sixth-grade student and the son of Peter Ngugi, the former MCA for Witeithie Ward, lost his life in the encounter.
In a shocking turn of events, the peaceful village of Nyacaba in Juja, Kiambu County, was thrown into deep mourning when a pack of hyenas mercilessly mauled a nine-year-old boy to death.
The incident occurred as the boy and his companions left church on the evening of November 18, 2023. The heart-wrenching tragedy has sparked concerns among residents, who now demand increased protection from wildlife and measures to prevent similar incidents.
According to eyewitnesses, a pack of hyenas suddenly confronted the group of boys while making their way home. In a desperate attempt to save themselves, the children scattered in panic, but tragically, one of them stumbled and fell victim to the vicious animals.
The victim, a sixth-grade student and the son of Peter Ngugi, the former MCA for Witeithie Ward, lost his life in the encounter.
The scene that awaited the horrified parents who rushed to the spot was one of unimaginable devastation—only remnants of their beloved child remained, including a dismembered hand and shreds of clothing.
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The grief-stricken community has expressed outrage over what they perceive as inadequate measures the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) took to safeguard their lives and protect them from wildlife threats.
They are now calling for urgent intervention to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Furthermore, they have pointed fingers at owners of vast tracts of undeveloped land, which they believe serve as a sanctuary for wild animals.
These parcels of land, left unattended for years, have inadvertently attracted hyenas and other dangerous creatures closer to residential areas.
"These parcels of land that have remained undeveloped for years should either be farmed or sold to developers to facilitate development. This way, hyenas will return to the forest," one of the residents said.
The concerned villagers are urging authorities to address the issue promptly and take proactive steps to ensure the safety and well-being of the community. They believe that both the KWS and the owners of idle land should be held accountable for the tragic loss of the young boy's life.
To prevent such incidents from recurring, they propose two potential solutions.
Firstly, they suggest that the undeveloped land be either utilized for agricultural purposes or sold to developers, thereby facilitating human settlements and reducing the encroachment of wildlife into residential areas.
Secondly, they emphasize the need for the KWS to enhance their efforts in safeguarding communities by implementing effective measures, such as increased patrols and establishing appropriate barriers or buffer zones between human settlements and wildlife habitats.
