Too Many Of Them: CS Mutua On Increase In Hyena Attacks

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has linked the rising cases of hyena attacks witnessed across the country to overpopulation amongst the species, which have seen some of them willingly venture into human residences, posing a threat to members of the public.

Addressing the press on Wednesday, February 7 after he flagged off the recruitment exercise of the National Youth Service at the Karisa Maitha Grounds in Kilifi town, the CS cited the dry season which consisted of drought that claimed the lives of hundreds of elephants and giraffes.

This blew open a window of opportunity for the hyenas to feast on the carcasses of the dead animals. This matter caused them to over-reproduce to the point that the current population of the hyenas could not be immediately established.

The high population, CS Mutua added, was what led to some hyenas straying towards human settlements and posing a threat to people.

“We have so many hyenas and everybody is asking where they are coming from, but many animals in our national parks succumbed to drought including 200 elephants and giraffes. The hyenas took advantage, feasted heavily on the carcasses and they reproduced a lot,” he said.

"Now the population of the hyenas in Kenya is very high, beyond accountability. That is why you have seen some of them leaving the parks because many animals during the rainy season are roaming around to the point of invading human settlements."

Mutua added that Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) had received reports on attacks including bodily injuries and deaths, and its officers were deployed to search for the animals, even as the government continues to sensitise the community on how to live with them.

He cautioned Kenyans against walking at night, especially near national parks and to finish their errands on time to avoid getting home late.

“As a government, we appeal to the public to restrain from walking at night, especially those around forests and national parks. Let us do our errands in time to avoid being late since we know there is this problem of the attacks by hyenas,” he added.

Parts of the country have seen a rise in hyena attacks since late 2023 with KWS urging the public to avoid running when they encounter the scavengers, warning such action could fuel their instinct.

Hyena attacks have been reported in Rongai prompting protests by residents in the areas. On Tuesday, students from Multimedia University located in Rongai staged protests after one of their own suffered a hyena attack at the Ole Kasasi area in Rongai, Kajiado County. 

The Problem Animal Management Unit (PAMU) further revealed that it had discovered remains of a human body believed to have been devoured by the hyenas.

"Regrettably, another (PAMU) team left on the ground discovered the partial remains of a human being at the scene, which were then retrieved by Kenya Police. The remains have since been confirmed and family members contacted," KWS stated.

According to KWS, an unfenced part of Nairobi National Park is on the migratory route which is used by many wild animals looking for food and hyenas being part of them have found alternative means leading to human-wildlife conflicts.