The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has issued a statement after students from the Multimedia University of Kenya (MMU) held protests following an incident where one of them was mauled by a hyena in Rongai.
In the February 6, 2024, statement, KWS confirmed that the reports about two people being attacked by the wild animal were true.
According to the wildlife service, one of the people attacked was a student from the University.
“Upon receiving reports, KWS promptly deployed the Problem Animal Management Unit (PAMU), who rushed the men to Wema Hospital in Rongai,” read part of the statement.
The two were attacked and grievously injured by hyenas on Monday night at the Ole Kasasi area in Rongai, Kajiado County.
KWS Statement
Additionally, the statement noted that the injured were then referred to the Kenyatta National Hospital for specialized treatment after First aid was administered.
Kelvin Mwenda, a 21-year-old student at the institution, was the first to be attacked by a hyena at around 8 pm.
Moments later, Stephen Romo, a resident of Olmeut village in Ongata Rongai, who was nearby rushed to rescue Mwenda.
However, he ended up being a victim of the animal, sustaining serious injuries from the attack.
Also Read: Multimedia University Students Protest After a Hyena Attacked Comrades [VIDEO]
According to KWS, partial remains of a human being were retrieved by Kenya Police at the scene.
The retrieved remains have since been positively confirmed by the family members.
Following the attacks, the aggravated students took their frustrations to the streets, protesting in demand for a response from the KWS.
They lit bonfires and threw rocks on Magadi Road rendering it impassible.
The protests escalated while the university’s Vice-Chancellor and her team convened an emergency meeting with senior officers from the wildlife service.
“KWS Senior Assistant Director for Southern Conservation Area Adan Kalla, MMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Maranga, and OCPD Rongai addressed the agitated students, and KWS outlined mitigation measures taken to contain the hyenas,” KWS added.
The wildlife service further revealed that the PAMU team managed to put down one hyena.
Furthermore, it has since launched an operation to identify surrounding dens where the wild animals could be hiding.
Attacks by Hyenas
In November 2023, a pack of hyenas mauled a nine-year-old boy to death in Juja, Kiambu County, as he walked home from church, leaving the community in shock.
As the attacks by the wild animals escalated, the wildlife service listed seven tips that Kenyans can use to avoid hyena attacks.
Also Read: Govt Issues 7 Tips on How to Avoid Hyena Attack
Some of the tips included stop, don’t run, don’t lie down or pretend to be dead, try not to show your fear, minimize movements at night as hyenas are nocturnal animals.
However, KWS noted that the animals are also useful scavengers that clean the ecosystem. This is by getting rid of discarded bones and debris thus preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases.
Also, it is important to note that a hyena is lazy and prefers scavenging easy meals example consuming dead meat rather than chasing prey.
“During the day, they can be spotted staring at the sky, taking cues from circling vultures as their own unique GPS system to locate a kill,” said KWS in a statement.
