Residents of Ndunguni village in Mwea, Embu county, have expressed fears of increased attacks by hippopotamus.
The residents said the Kenya Wildlife Service and Embu county government have ignored their complaints.
Peter Makau, a resident of Ndunguni village, said a hippopotamus killed three people in the last eight months, with the latest incident being a middle-aged man, Dennis Mutua Komu, who was attacked and killed while he had gone to guard his farm against hippo destruction.
Mutua’s body was found lying on his farm near Masinga dam with injuries around the neck, which Mbeere South deputy subcounty police commander Inviolata Lumata confirmed to be as a result of hippo attack.
Makau said they have several times reported the incidents at Mbondoni police post and at the KWS, including Embu county, but no action has been taken for so many years.
He said recently a hippopotamus attacked and killed a school child and the matter was reported at Mbondoni police post and at the KWS but no action was taken.
“We cannot kill the animal because it is against the law but this has forced us to come up with our own ways of protecting ourselves against the animal before we find a lasting solution,” Makau said.
He further said men in Ndunguni village have to spend cold nights outside to guard their farms against hippopotamuses during crop seasons.
Makau said even their children fear going to school in the morning due to attacks by hippos. He called on the KWS and Embu county to tame the animals and protect their lives and those of their children.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
