Senior advisor in President William Ruto’s State House-based Council of Economic Advisors Moses Kuria has promised to personally ensure the family of four-year-old boy that was mauled by a hyena in Juja, Kiambu County, receives compensation within six months.
This is after Kuria on the evening of Saturday, September 7, 2024, paid a visit to the grieving family at their home in Flat Estate, Nyacaba area of Weitethie in Juja sub-county.
The former Public Service Cabinet Secretary was in the company of senior officers from Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
“This evening, I visited the family of a four-year-old boy who was tragically mauled by a hyena on Wednesday at Flat Estate, Nyacaba area of Weitethie, Juja Constituency. I assured the grieving family that I will personally ensure they receive compensation within six months,” Kuria said in a statement shared via his official X account.
Moses Kuria on hyena menace
Kuria went ahead to note that there has been no previous record of human-animal conflict in the area, as hyenas and humans coexisted peacefully.
He further assured that KWS has since identified a new and aggressive species of hyenas that pose a threat to humans, which are primarily found around abandoned quarries and uncontrolled dump sites.
“This incident represents a new and disturbing trend, as there has been no previous record of human-animal conflict in the area. Historically, hyenas and humans in this area coexisted peacefully.
“However, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has now identified a new, aggressive species of hyenas that pose a threat to humans. These hyenas are primarily found around abandoned quarries and uncontrolled dump sites in the area, which have become their hiding grounds as they feed on food remnants at night and seek refuge during the day,” Kuria stated.
Moses Kuria’s plea to NEMA
Moreover, he notes that he has requested National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Director General to address the issue of abandoned quarries.
Kuria also wants KWS to relocate the hyenas to a remote area.
“I have requested the NEMA Director General to address this issue of abandoned quarries and i*****l dump sites . It’s also crucial that the Kiambu County Government take decisive action to decommission abandoned quarries, as they are responsible for quarry licensing. Additionally, the hyenas should be relocated to a remote area by KWS,” he said.
HYENA MENACE IN JUJA
7 September 2024This evening, I visited the family of a four-year-old boy who was tragically mauled by a hyena on Wednesday at Flat Estate, Nyacaba area of Weitethie, Juja Constituency.
I assured the grieving family that I will personally ensure they… pic.twitter.c*m/m4AFY9WOw0
— Hon.Moses Kuria,HSC (@HonMoses_Kuria) September 7, 2024
CS Miano takes action
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano on Friday, September 6, 2024, revealed the new strategy her ministry has employed to address the hyena menace in Juja.
While regretting the attack on the five-year-old child in Juja by a hyena, the former Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry CS stated that she directed the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to mop up all hyenas from the area.
According to Miano, the KWS officers must demonstrate to the residents of Juja that the attacks by hyenas will be a thing of the past after September 2024.
