Residents of Juja, Kiambu County, have opposed plans to establish a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) camp in their constituency to address ongoing hyena attacks that have resulted in deaths and injuries among locals.
Kalimoni MCA Godfrey Mucheke, who is also the majority leader at the Kiambu County Assembly, informed journalists that KWS had expressed interest in building a permanent camp in the area to assist frightened residents in dealing with the hyena threat.
However, Mucheke dismissed the request, stating that it would effectively designate the constituency as a game park, as KWS camps are typically located in animal sanctuaries.
“We had a security meeting this morning, during which KWS requested our assistance in establishing a permanent camp to combat hyena attacks. I believe this is impractical and undesirable, as hyenas should not be present here. We urged them to capture and relocate these animals back to the forest within two weeks,” Mucheke stated.
Juja MP George Koimburi also opposed the proposal, asserting that the government needs to clarify the situation to end the ongoing human-animal conflicts in the area. “It is time for the government to declare whether Juja is a game park or a residential area for people.
We need to know if we or the hyenas should inhabit this place. We have given the government seven days to address the hyena problem; otherwise, we will begin culling them before they harm more people,” Koimburi declared.
Local residents, led by Martin Ngugi and Jane Gichuki, echoed the leaders’ concerns, describing their frightening encounters with the dangerous animals. They criticized KWS for not doing enough to manage the threat posed by the hungry hyenas and called for immediate action to protect their families and livestock.
They noted that the failure of investors to refill mined quarries and clear bushy areas in the region has attracted wild animals to the village, as these quarries provide safe breeding and hiding spots for the hyenas. While hyenas are primarily nocturnal, they can also attack during the day.
Affected areas in the constituency include Nyacaba, Maraba, Witeithie, Juja South Estate, Kalimoni, and Kabati villages. So far, 12 hyenas have been relocated from the constituency in an effort to reduce human-animal conflicts in the area.
