School introduces Hyena lessons to help children cope amid increased attacks

Baraka Awali Preparatory School which sits close to the Oldonyo Sabuk Game Reserve came up with the mitigation measures as the marauding creatures have been killing livestock and attacking people.

The school has introduced lessons about Hyenas, their lifestyles and how to cope with the beasts that have been causing havoc in the area.

Speaking during the commissioning of the only primary school in the area, Chrisphine Oluoch who is the Manager of Baraka Hawali School said they had to take the initiative after learning that many children could not differentiate between Hyenas and dogs.

He says several children were reportedly killed by the beasts causing fear and panic in the area. 

According to the school administrator, they have to release the children early so that those from far areas arrive home before darkness to prevent them from bumping into the strolling animals.

“We also have been forced to sensitize the children on the hyenas, how they look like, how to avoid attacks and what to do when you face them,” said Oluoch.

Over the years, the parents have had to escort their children to and from school for fear that the animals might attack their kids.

Julius Huho, a parent, said they wake up as early as 4 am to prepare their children to go to school, escort them and get them back from 5 pm when the animals start coming out of their hideouts.

“Anyone who has lived in this area has a story about a hyena attack on their livestock and also relatives. The animals come in their numbers and some are so big and dangerous. We have fought them but it seems they can’t go away. We now have to learn how to live with them,” said another parent Grace Ireri 

“Just last week, the hyenas mauled to death over 10 goats and several sheep. Late last year, a learner was mauled to death by the animals. They are a menace.”

To many parents, the new school has come as a relief as the pupils used to walk for more than eight kilometres to access any institution. 

“Before the establishment of the school, we would wake up as early as 4 am and before we get to school, it is around 7 am. Children too would get home at around 8 pm and would brave the animals on the way. It was a scare,” said one of the parents.

The animals are said to have hideouts in the nearby Athi River banks and sometimes come from the Ol Donyo Sabuk game reserve".

The community’s fear, however, is that it might be difficult for the government to lock away the animals due to their many hideouts and thus they have to learn how to live with them.

They blame the government for laxity in addressing the issues 

Despite losing many lives and livestock to the animals, the residents decry of government's laxity in addressing the issue adding that no compensation has been given to those affected.

“Most of the residents know nothing about the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). We lose lives and animals and don’t know where to report. Our administrators should intervene to see to it that we get compensation,” they said. 

The locals also face other infrastructural problems among them poor roads, lack of electricity, water, Hospitals and other essential facilities like schools.