KCPE Candidate Escapes Death After Ambush by Hippo

A Pink Hippo pictured in the Mara River. Will and Matt Burrard-Lucas.
A Pink Hippo pictured in the Mara River.
Will and Matt Burrard-Lucas.

A Standard 8 pupil set to sit for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) is nursing serious injuries after he was attacked by hippo on the shores of Lake Victoria.

A report by The Standard on Sunday, October 25, indicated that the boy, Austin Onyango, was playing  with his friends at the Nyamnwa Beach in Bondo, Siaya County, when he was attacked.

Confirming the incident, Onyango's father, Meshack Okuku, noted that the boy's leg was severed by the animal.

a
File image of a congested classroom in Kenya
File

The boys were playing along the beach oblivious to the danger that was lurking, as the beast had come out to graze not far from them.

The other children were, however, not harmed during the incident. The father of the boy has since asked the government to intervene and end the hippos menace.

"We are calling upon the government to intervene and curb the attacks," stated Okuku who also serves as Siaya County Beach Management (BMU) network.

Onyango was rushed to Bondo sub-county hospital where he was treated and discharged.

In mid-September, residents of Mbita, Homa Bay County, also witnessed a harrowing incident where a hippopotamus snatched a young boy and dragged him into Lake Victoria.

The video showed the residents watching helplessly as the animal mauled the child to death.

Hippos are considered to be very aggressive animals and can stay underwater for up to 5 minutes. 

A hippo pictured with its mouth wide open
A hippo pictured with its mouth wide open
Ebrahim Wildlife Photography
  • . . .