KWS captures 60 hyenas in restive Juja villages

Happy residents watch Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers as they load a trapped hyena that was giving them sleepless nights into a waiting vehicle. [File, Standard]

Some 60 hyenas have been captured in an operation in Juja of Kiambu County where the marauding hounds have mauled at least eight people to death.

For a few weeks, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers have been working around the clock to track down the hyenas reigning fear in the villages.

Addressing residents of Flat village in Nyacaba on Friday, KWS Senior Assistant Director Joseph Dadacha revealed that 60 hyenas have been captured while some have been killed since the operation started three weeks ago.

Dadacha is in charge of the southern conservation area which covers five counties.

"As the agency mandated to deal with wild animals, I want to assure you that we will engage you through awareness programmes and educate you on how to minimise encounters with wildlife. We have already educated 22,000 learners from 16 schools," he said.

According to Dadacha, one of the hindrances to their mission is the abandoned quarries where hyenas have been hiding. He called on National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to deal with illegal disposal of waste which has been attracting the animals known for scavenging.

"As a long term measure to tame hyenas and other dangerous animals in this area, we are requesting for land where we can build a permanent camp. This will enable us to respond quickly as the closest camp is in Ol Donyo Sabuk, more than 50 kilometres away.

On August 17, during the wedding of Juja MP George Koimburi's daughter, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua announced that the government would track down and capture hyenas that have been mauling people and causing anxiety in the area.

The DP promised that the government would deploy a team of security personnel to drive out the wild animals and address the threat in light of increased attacks.

He was responding to Koimburi's call to authorities to intervene after a 52-year-old woman was mauled to death by a hyena. But even before the team was sent, five-year-old Njoroge Gitau was mauled to death.

The incident sparked rage as residents of Nyacaba barricaded the Thika superhighway for nearly two hours on September 5, protesting against the killing of the PP1 pupil.

In the last 10 months, about eight people have been mauled to death by hyenas. The deceased include Nancy Njoki, Denis Tiyor (minor), Bravin Wanjala (minor), Joseph Mungai, Emmanuel Kamande (minor), Joyce Wambui and Samuel Ng'ang'a.

A special team from KWS's Problematic Areas Management Unit was deployed from Laikipia, Nakuru, and Nairobi to try and stop the hyena menace.

Under the command of O'Brien Leng'uro, the team of about 50 officers has been patrolling Nyacaba, Athi, Juja Farm, Gwa Kigwe, and Muthara villages day and night, tracking down the hyenas.

Leng'uro says, the officers have been sealing off abandoned quarries where the animals hide during the day and setting traps to capture them when they emerge at night.

"We have walked together through the night and you have seen our methods. We are using three main approaches by first setting traps then using the call-back technique before sealing off the quarries so that when the hyenas come out at night, they have no place to return and hide," he explained.

KWS has been conducting meetings with the affected residents in order to sensitise them on how to protect themselves from the marauding hyenas. The agency, in conjunction with the leadership of Juja, has conducted barazas in Muthara and Nyacaba.

While in Rumuruti, Laikipia County in April, President William Ruto launched a Sh960 million compensation scheme to families who fell victims of wildlife.