The animal was tracked and killed following the attack and its carcass tested for rabies in case it had infected the wounded victims.
By James Robinson, News reporter @thejournojames
A man has died, and two others have been injured, by a cackle of marauding hyenas in Kenya.
The attack took place near the Multimedia University of Kenya on the outskirts of the capital, Nairobi, on Monday night.
The university is located near the western border of Nairobi National Park – home to several species of carnivorous animals including hyenas, lions, and cheetahs.
“Regrettably, a team discovered the partial remains of a human being at the scene, which were retrieved by Kenya Police,” the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said in a statement.
Anthony Pasha has been named as the man who died in the attack. His relatives said he was killed while collecting firewood.
“The hyena came, it attacked him, chased him from the forest,” Kaaji Lesian, the victim’s cousin said.
One of those injured, 21-year-old engineering student Kevin Mwendwa, lost a thumb in the attack.
The KWS said a hyena had been put down following the attack and its carcass was being examined to determine if it had rabies or other diseases.
Rabies can make infected animals more aggressive and prone to bite.
Hyena attacks have become increasingly frequent on the outskirts of Nairobi, prompting KWS to release guidelines on how to react when confronted by the animals.
“If faced with a hyena, do not move away until it does, and continue facing its direction. Be loud, look aggressive, and appear frightening to deter the hyena,” the KWS advises.
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The guidelines were released in January, after 10-year-old Dennis Teya was attacked and killed in a field in Kiambu County, north of Nairobi.
The recent attack has prompted students to protest over what they have called a lack of security.
“The university is not safe because we are near the national park,” said one student, Ochieng Kefah.
“The government should, maybe, put some restrictions on the movement of the animals.”
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
