Residents of Dhovuni village in Voi, Taita Taveta County were left fearing for lives after a stray lion attacked 3 members of the same family killing their daughter.
The deceased, Asha Mohammed, was an 11-year-old Class Seven pupil at Marasai Primary School.
One of the survivors, Michael Nzalu, narrated how he narrowly escaped death when the lion attacked his family.
“I ran to the house but it followed me inside and started attacking me, my wife and child. We overpowered it but it left me with serious injuries,” he recalled.
He suffered serious injuries on his head, hands and chest and has been admitted to Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi for treatment.
His wife is also nursing injuries in the hospital.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers who responded to the attack killed the adult lioness that is believed to have strayed from the neighbouring Tsavo National Park.
Residents raised concerns over frequent run-ins with wild animals from the national park.
They also accused KWS of failing to address their concerns leading to the escalation of the human-wildlife conflict.
“KWS values wildlife more than humans. I know if an animal had died they would have rushed there in choppers,” Suleiman Mwalili lamented.
