Juja family seeks justice after 5-year-old boy dies in Hyena attack

This heartbreaking incident marks the third fatal hyena attack in the area within a month.

The young boy, an only child, had been sent to a nearby shopping center around 7 p.m. when the attack occurred. 

Distraught locals, who have long battled the persistent threat posed by hyenas, are now calling for immediate government intervention, amid promises that the situation is being addressed.

On Thursday morning, residents outraged by the ongoing attacks blocked both sides of Thika Road at Ndarugu, accusing the government and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) of neglecting the issue.

Last month, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had vowed that security personnel would be dispatched to the area to address the growing threat posed by the animals. 

He attributed the increase in hyena attacks to abandoned quarries, which provide shelter for the animals before they strike.

Speaking at a public event in Juja, Gachagua noted, "According to the KWS Director-General, the abandoned quarry sites are contributing to the hyena problem. We are deeply concerned by these deaths and will send a team to capture and relocate the hyenas. Additionally, the quarries themselves pose security risks and serve as mosquito breeding grounds."

His remarks followed a plea from Juja MP George Koimburi, who urged the government to act after a 52-year-old woman was also killed by hyenas. 

The MP lamented that in the past five months, the wild animals have claimed several lives, including children.