Irene Wambua Mbithe, a woman from Machakos County who lost her eye to a hyena attack, has successfully undergone the first process of artificial eye surgery transplant at Lions’ Firstsight Eye Hospital.
Her plight was aired on Citizen TV’s Shajara na Lulu Hassan episode on April 4, 2025. During the show, former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko promised to pay her three months’ rent and facilitate her treatment.
On Friday morning, Sonko revealed that Wambua underwent the first process and would be reviewed by the doctors the following day.
“The first process of artificial eye surgery transplant for Irene Wambua Mbithe (the lady who was attacked by hyenas featured in Shajara na Lulu) was successful at the Lions’ Firstsight Eye Hospital. She will be reviewed today. We wish her a quick recovery,” Sonko stated in a post on X.
While recounting her story, Wambua revealed that the incident occurred six years ago at the Tsavo National Park following a job interview.
The victim, who was 19-years-old at the time, narrated that the prospective employer rejected her because she did not have an Identity Card.
Devastated by the turn of events, Wambua decided to walk back home but received a lift from nearby truck drivers.
The free ride, however, did not turn out to be rosy after she was later kicked out from the lorry for rejecting the driver’s sexual advances. It was at this moment that she encountered a hyena that mauled her, plucking out her eye and attacking her left arm in the process.
Fortunately, a good Samaritan heard her screams and alerted police officers, who rushed to the scene and transferred her to Makindu Hospital.
Six years down the line, Wambua is still hopeful that she will be compensated by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) for the attack.
During the show, Sonko called in and promised to assist Wambua in her predicament.
“We are also in the process of engaging a team of strong lawyers to pursue the compensation case with KWS and also liaise with the detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to ensure all the culprits are brought to book. We wish her well,” Sonko said.
