- KWS teams are searching for suspected wolves in Murang’a after several residents suffered injuries in daytime attacks
- Tea farmers say their routines have been disrupted as thick vegetation makes tracking difficult and heightens fear in the community
- Leaders and KWS officers are urging vigilance as victims continue to recover from severe injuries
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Murang’a: Kenya Wildlife Service officers are carrying out an intensive search in Kiairathe, Kangema constituency, after animals believed to be wolves attacked villagers in a series of frightening incidents.
Source: UGC
According to Kenya News Agency, at least five people have been injured and one woman is still receiving treatment at Mt Kenya Hospital.
Residents, shaken by the attacks, have already killed five of the animals as fear rises across the farming community.
Local leaders say the situation has disrupted daily life, especially tea farming, which many families depend on.
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How suspected wolves are affecting Murang’a residents
Murang’a MP Peter Kihungi urged residents to stay calm and offer their support as the search continues. He said.
“We share our deepest sympathies with those injured and wish them a quick recovery. The area has thick tea bushes that give the animals hiding spaces, so I ask everyone to stay alert,” he said.
He added that compensation processes for the victims will be followed as provided for in law.
KWS Warden John Gathua noted that the dense vegetation has slowed down the operation.
He said his team was working closely with locals to clear overgrown areas and identify possible hiding spots.
“When bushes grow too thick, animals use them as cover. Clearing those areas helps us track faster. Residents understand the terrain well and their support is important,” he said.
How many Murang’a residents have been attacked by wolves?
Among the injured is Lucy Waithera, who was attacked while picking tea.
She said, “It bit my leg below the knee and I struggled to fight it off. It overpowered me until people arrived and helped me.”
She is recovering at home with her leg bandaged. Other victims include 80-year-old Kimani Gachihi, who suffered a deep cut on his left leg while cutting fodder, and John Ngunjiri, who was injured on his hands and knee while cutting grass.
Another victim, the wife of John Mwangi Kuria, remains in hospital with injuries to her legs, neck and hands after being attacked while picking tea.
Residents are urging the government to act quickly, saying the animals have been attacking even during the day, leaving the community worried and unable to work safely.
Source: Facebook
Did Murang’a authorities win battle against rogue monkeys?
In a related development previously reported by TUKO.co.ke, Murang’a county had rolled out a large scale effort to trap velvet monkeys that residents said were destroying crops and, in some cases, harassing women and girls in Gatanga.
The county announced hunting schedules through local radio stations, and trapped monkeys were being transferred to Kimakia Forest near the Aberdares.
Officials had already captured about one hundred using metallic cages placed across affected farms.
The programme stirred mixed reactions, with some residents supporting the move and others arguing that relocating the primates would not stop them from returning.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
