A 57-year-old man is being treated at the Nyahururu County and Referral Hospital after being attacked and injured by marauding hippos last night in Manguu village on the outskirts of Nyahururu in Laikipia County town.
A huge hippopotamus attacked Josephat Kahiga, a meat inspector in the area, as he prepared to open the gate to his home, injuring his right leg.
He was able to wrestle the hippo and raise an alarm, which drew neighbours to his aid, who were able to rush him to the hospital where he is being treated.
Joyce Karima, a neighbour, described how she heard distress calls and when she went out to find out, she discovered it was the vet who was being attacked by hippos.
Residents claimed that the hippos were straying from the nearby River Ewaso Nyiro and causing havoc as they roamed around looking for pasture.
They did note, however, that some farmers have cultivated an open public utility land where the hippos feed, forcing the animals to roam into residential areas.
They are now urging the government to act quickly and address the issues in order to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
