On the evening of September 1, tragedy struck in Nyacaba village, Juja, Kiambu County, when nine-year-old Ryan Njoroge went missing after stepping out of his house to answer a call of nature. A frantic search through the night yielded no results. Two days later, locals stumbled upon tattered pieces of Ryan’s clothes and chewed-up bones belonging to a rib and spinal vertebrae, confirming the dreadful fate that had befallen the young boy.
The culprit behind this heartbreaking incident was identified as the man-eater hyenas of Juja. In recent times, areas around Witeithie, Ndarugo, and Nyacaba have witnessed a surge in hyena attacks, with numerous casualties estimated to be more than a dozen. For the residents, life has become a constant struggle between survival and danger, as these ferocious predators prey upon humans right at their doorsteps.
Ryan’s tragic case was not the first; six people had already been reported eaten by hyenas this year, with several other incidents going unreported when no remains were found. According to area chief Muchui Muiruri, the hyenas are spotted in groups of eight to fifteen, suggesting a substantial population spread across various locations.
One of the affected villages, Athi, recalls a gruesome incident where 35-year-old Robert Mwangi lost his life to an attack while heading home late at night. The haunting laughter of the hyenas echoes through the area after 7 pm, causing fear and compelling residents to take precautions.
The root cause of the human-wildlife conflict lies in the encroachment of natural habitats by humans. Nyacaba’s rapid real estate development and extensive quarrying activities have led to a rise in human settlements and increased attacks over the last decade. The land, previously owned by a white settler during colonial times, was eventually subdivided and sold off as plots to the growing community. Unfortunately, this human population expansion disrupted the ecosystem, while the mining activities further exacerbated the issue by driving the hyenas out of their natural habitats.
The chief expressed concern that the hyenas, deprived of their original prey due to hunting and habitat destruction, have resorted to targeting humans for food, including revellers, quarry workers, and children. As a result, the locals have imposed a self-imposed curfew, ensuring they return home before nightfall when the hyenas take over the night.
The human-wildlife conflict in Juja raises questions about the responsibility of both humans and hyenas in encroaching into each other’s territories. While the human population’s expansion has undeniably encroached on the natural habitat of the hyenas, the mining activities have worsened the situation. Efforts to address the issue and mitigate attacks are challenging, as the hyenas’ elusive movements make them difficult to track.
In conclusion, the tragic case of young Ryan Njoroge serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in Juja. It calls for a balanced approach, where measures are taken to preserve both human settlements and natural habitats to reduce encounters and promote peaceful coexistence between humans and hyenas.
