In response to a series of deadly hyena attacks reported in Juja, Kiambu County, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) on Sunday launched an intensive operation to capture and relocate the rogue animals.
Over the past few months, several fatal incidents raised alarm in the community, culminating in the tragic death of a five-year-old boy, Njoroge Gitau, who was killed by a hyena on September 4, 2024.
KWS mobilised additional specialised officers from Laikipia, Nakuru and Nairobi to support the operation, which will be conducted around the clock.
Joseph Dadacha, Senior Assistant Director for the Central Rift Conservation Area, was appointed by the KWS Director General to lead the efforts. At a press briefing held at Tropical Farm in Nyacaba, Juja, Dadacha outlined the measures being implemented.
“We have deployed tens of our officers drawn from different parts of the country. They have the relevant machinery to hunt down and capture the hyenas. They will have several camps in Juja and they will leave once the mission is complete,” he noted.
The operation includes the use of advanced equipment such as night vision tools, traps, and luring devices to capture the hyenas. Once captured, the hyenas will be relocated to areas far from human settlements to prevent further incidents.
In addition to capturing the animals, the KWS teams will conduct regular patrols to monitor hyena activity and respond swiftly to any reported sightings.
In a bid to prevent future encounters, KWS will also engage local communities through awareness programs. These programs will focus on educating residents about proper waste disposal practices and the importance of promptly reporting wildlife sightings.
State House Senior Advisor Moses Kuria announced that the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) will initiate an inspection of local dumpsites and unattended quarry sites, which may serve as hyena hideouts. This initiative aims to address environmental factors contributing to the hyena problem.
The situation reached a boiling point on Thursday when residents of Nyacaba blocked the Thika Superhighway for nearly two hours, protesting the hyena attacks and demanding immediate action.
The recent attacks deeply impacted the community, underscoring the urgent need for effective wildlife management and safety measures.
