Residents of Sinendet village, Nakuru County are in shock after a grade 7 pupil body was discovered in a maize field brutally mutilated in what authorities suspect was a hyena attack.
It is reported that the 14-year-old pupil identified as James Mwangi, had left his mother's house on Friday evening and never made it back home.
When he failed to return, his family filed a missing persons report at Naishi Police Station.
However, his remains, scattered limbs and shreds of his school uniform, were spotted by a farm worker two days after the boy went missing.
Area Assistant Chief Lewis Kiaraho confirmed that the evidence left no room for doubt. "We found intestines and torn clothes, what more can one say?" he stated.
Locals believe the predators wandered from Lake Nakuru National Park, a pattern they've witnessed far too often. In recent months, hyenas have increasingly ventured into villages during daylight, attacking livestock and, now, children.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) dispatched officers to the scene, but by the time they arrived on Monday, the hyenas had vanished. No public statement has been issued, and residents say there's no clear plan in place to prevent future attacks.
Calls for fencing park boundaries and improving compensation mechanisms have grown louder. While Kenyan wildlife laws provide for restitution following injury or death caused by wild animals, families say bureaucracy has made the process slow and frequently ends without compensation.
According to a 2023 report by the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Nakuru recorded over 600 cases of human-wildlife conflict, with hyena attacks topping the list.
The government has in place a compensation programme meant to cushion families and livestock owners affected by such incidents. President William Ruto recently launched an enhanced compensation plan to fast-track payouts and reduce bureaucracy in the process.
Ruto revealed that compensation claims between 2014 and 2023 amounted to Sh7 billion. Out of that, Sh4 billion has already been paid, while the remaining Sh3 billion is still being processed.
He said victims of wildlife-related injuries will be compensated up to a maximum of Sh4 million, depending on the level of injury.
Ruto emphasised that the government, in partnership with conservation groups, communities, and the private sector, will continue to support wildlife protection while ensuring the safety of citizens.
