Wildlife CS Miano orders KWS to remove all hyenas from Juja after two children killed

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has ordered the removal of all hyenas marauding around Juja area, Kiambu County, after two children were killed by the beasts.

The CS termed the current hyena menace in the area as “inadmissible,” calling for the immediate action by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to ensure the area is free from hyenas by September.

“The hyena menace around Juja area has now reached inadmissible levels. The recent loss of two children in the area to hyenas is so painful to think about,” stated Miano in a statement on Friday.

“I have directed KWS to mop up all hyenas from the Juja area as fast as humanly possible and demonstrate to the residents of the area affected that this will be a thing of the past after September 2024.”

She further directed that the KWS personnel be dispatched to the area to offer 24-hour surveillance and ensure the beasts do not keep mauling residents.

“Meanwhile, I have authorized 24-hour KWS surveillance in Juja area to ensure that no other life is lost forthwith. KWS personnel are on the ground to ensure no more lives are lost to wild animals,” the CS added,

The announcement comes a day after Juja residents staged protests following the killing of a five-year-old by the wild animals.

The minor, who was the only child in his family, was attacked by a pack of hyenas on Wednesday at around 7pm when he was sent to a nearby shopping centre.

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

KWS later came out to condole with the family as they committed to addressing the human-wildlife conflict through their newly launched ‘Operation Ondoa Fisi-2.’

“In response to this incident, KWS 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,” stated KWS in a statement on Thursday.

“To address the hyena threat, KWS launched Operation Ondoa Fisi-2 on 8th August 2024, following a similar incident in Juja. This operation was a buildup on a previous initiative from November 2023 to tackle rising hyena attacks.”

The State corporation underscored that, through the operation, they had already tracked, captured, and relocated 38 hyenas, and sealed 12 quarries used as hideouts by the animals and had also deployed teams to help manage the situation.

Consequently, KWS issued an advisory to residents in the area requiring them to, “limit movement at night, dispose of waste properly to avoid attracting hyenas, and to refrain from tampering with traps set for the animals.”

“A specialized team has been deployed to manage the current situation, with the operation proceeding in two phases: hyena management and community engagement to educate residents on safety measures," KWS added.

“KWS is committed to working with relevant authorities to address and rehabilitate abandoned quarries within Juja and ensure the safety of all residents.”