Roaming hyena causes panic in Nakuru

Residents of Baraka estate in Nakuru are living in fear after a lone hyena was spotted several times roaming the area at night.

            The hyena is said to have caused fear and panic among the residents in the past two days after it was spotted roaming freely at night in several neighborhoods.

            The wild animal which has forced the residents to restrict their movements at night is suspected to have strayed from Lake Nakuru National Park.

            A resident identified as Ann Kurgat, recounted how she encountered the animal on a feeder road to Nakuru-Kisumu-Eldoret Highway when driving home at night.

             “Most of us have minimized our night movements lest you encounter the animal,” stated Ms Kurgat

             Kurgat appealed to the Kenya Wildlife Service to track down the animal and translocate it to the Lake Nakuru National Park or elsewhere to avert deaths.

            She expressed concern over the safety of children as they leave very early in the morning for school when the hyena is still roaming the area.

            The locals said that failure by sand harvesters in Baruti Location to refill mined quarries and clear bushes has attracted the wild animals to residential areas.

            The quarries outside protected areas have been singled out as havens that provide safe breeding and hiding havens to hyenas.

            Nakuru Deputy County Police Commander Ezekiel Chepkwony said that they were yet to receive reports about the stray hyena, but however pledged that police would liaise with the Kenya Wildlife Service to investigate the matter. 

He called on residents who have sighted the animal to urgently report to the nearest police station

            “For now, as security agencies we have not received any official report on sighting of the stray animal but for now as a government we appeal to the public to restrain from walking at night especially near forests, bushes and quarries, let us do our errands in time to avoid being late,” added the police chief.

             Chepkwony indicated that it was abnormal for hyenas to stray into people’s settlement areas and   cautioned the residents to beware of the dangerous carnivore, as security personnel move into action.

            Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano last month directed the Kenya Wildlife Service to move swiftly and stop further hyena attacks in the country.

            KWS has since announced that it is intensifying efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in the country

            The agency launched Operation Ondoa Fisi-2 on August 8, following hyena attacks in Juja.

            The operation is a buildup on a previous initiative from November 2023 to tackle rising hyena attacks. Since the start of Operation Ondoa Fisi-2, KWS has successfully tracked, captured and relocated 38 hyenas and sealed 12 quarries used where the animals hide.

            KWS said it is committed to working with relevant authorities to address and rehabilitate abandoned quarries within the country and ensure the safety of all residents.

            “We remain steadfast in ensuring the safety and well-being of Kenyans and urge anyone who spots problematic wildlife to immediately report the sighting through the KWS 24/7 hotline 0800 597 000 or WhatsApp number +254 726610509.” Stated a statement from KWS.

            There has been rising cases of hyena attacks in Kenya over the past few days, with the reports now being attributed to overpopulation of the wild animals.

            According to former Tourism Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, hyenas started overpopulating during the dry season last year as they feasted on carcasses of other animals that succumbed to drought.