Residents on mainland Lamu are been living on edge due to the large number of roaming hippos.
Areas that have recorded increased encounters with these deadly animals include Koreni and Mkunumbi.
The hippos have strayed from their habitats in search of water because of drought.
At least 10 hippos have made new homes inside the Koreni and Mkunumbi dams, which happen to be the only water sources available, leaving residents with no water for two months now.
There is fear and panic in the two villages and neighbouring areas as locals fear attacks by the hippos that have become aggressive due to human presence.
The animals are said to walk around freely at night with a few lucky people narrating how they escaped after bumping into a bloat of hippos.
“I was on my motorbike but I dumped it and fled after I found myself right in the middle of hippos. I still believe I am lucky to be alive,” Mohamed Shukria, a resident of Mkunumbi, said.
Koreni elder Muhumed Kalmei said villagers have been forced to stay indoors and children forced to skip school for fear of being attacked on the way.
“We can never venture out at night. These hippos are all over and it’s scary. Let the KWS [Kenya Wildlife Service] do something urgently before they kill someone,” Kalmei said.
Attempts by locals to shoo the hippos away by pelting them with stones have proved futile as the animals stayed put.
“The KWS is aware and have done nothing so far. It’s like they are waiting for someone to die before they can act. Let them act fast,” Mariam Shifaa of Koreni said.
Livestock have not been spared either as they are attacked by the hippos every time they attempt to take a drink from the now hippo-infested dams.
Locals have called on the KWS to contain roaming wildlife to avert a crisis and possible deadly attacks.
In reaction, Lamu county KWS senior warden Mathias Mwavita said cases of human-wildlife encounters were unavoidable during the drought period and warned residents against confronting the animals.
He said interventions were being made to manage the situation.
