Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has pledged swift government intervention to address the growing menace of hyena attacks in Juja estates, Kiambu County.
Speaking on Saturday during a wedding ceremony at Juja Preparatory School grounds, Gachagua assured residents that a specialised team would be dispatched to track, capture, and relocate the dangerous animals that have terrorised the community.
The deputy president made these remarks at the wedding of Paul Wetosi and Jacinta Wanjiru, the daughter of Juja MP George Koimburi.
The joyous occasion was momentarily overshadowed by the grim reality of the recent hyena attacks that claimed several lives in the area, including that of a 52-year-old woman.
Gachagua revealed that the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) had identified abandoned quarry sites in Juja as possible hiding places for the hyenas.
He noted that these quarries, left unattended for years, may be providing a haven for the predators before they launch attacks on unsuspecting residents.
"We have gathered from the KWS Director-General that the problem of hyenas in Juja is also linked to the abandoned quarry sites," said Gachagua.
"The death incidents are worrisome. We are sending a team to capture the hyenas and relocate them so that they do not become a menace. The quarries are also a security threat and can be breeding areas for mosquitoes."
The Deputy President’s comments were in response to an impassioned plea from the Juja MP who highlighted the dire situation during his daughter’s wedding.
Koimburi expressed deep concern over the increasing frequency of attacks, which have resulted in the deaths of multiple residents, including children, over the past five months.
"The hyena attacks have left our community living in fear. We have lost loved ones, and we urgently need the government's help to put an end to this tragedy," he stated
In his address, Gachagua emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all citizens and vowed that immediate steps would be taken to secure Juja from further attacks.
