A pack of hyenas mauled a nine-year-old baby to death in Nyacaba village in Juja, Kiambu County, sending locals into shock.
The grade 3 male pupil at a village private school was reported missing on Thursday evening, only for his clothes to be found dumped in a nearby bush on Saturday.
The child, identified as Njoroge Mariga, is said to have disappeared from the house on Thursday night when her mother, a doctor, was working, according to Gideon Nderitu, a resident.
His clothes were reportedly discovered by quarry workers who were reporting for work early in the morning.
Residents led by Mary Muthoni and Martin Mwaura; a bishop, expressed regret that the incident had left them fearful because they could no longer walk at night.
In their speeches, they claimed that three more hyenas had been spotted roaming around the village on another mission for the wild animals to attack them.
Concerned that Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) officers have done little to contain the situation despite numerous requests to have the animals ejected from the village, residents have called for immediate intervention to avert further crisis.
“It is very sad that we have lost an innocent child to wild animals yet we have a government and officers mandated to ensure the harmful animals remain in the forest. We cannot cope with what we have seen today,” regretted Muthoni.
“We are tired now, we do not want to experience these cases anymore,” said Bishop Mwaura.
Earlier, two more people in Witethie village in Juja had been attacked by the animals.
The incidents come months after a 35-year-old man from the neighbouring Athi village was attacked by about eight hyenas.
Last year, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) cautioned Juja and Thika residents of the marauding animals causing deadly attacks on residents.
