KWS airlifts 10-year-old boy mauled by hyenas to Nairobi for treatment

By Eric Akasa 

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is in the process of airlifting a 10-year-old boy from Wajir to a Nairobi hospital for treatment after he was injured by a pack of hyenas. The helicopter is expected to land at the KWS hangar at Wilson Airport in Nairobi in the next two hours (by 1pm today)

Musa Jelle was mauled on the face by a pack of hyenas which attacked a Manyatta his family was sleeping in at Dilmanyale, Wajir County, on the night of June 10, 2012. Two children died and six other family members, including Musa, were injured during the incident. The injured members of the family were admitted at Habaswein District Hospital while the boy was admitted at Garissa District hospital. Other family members have since been discharged from hospital and burials for the deceased carried out. A donation of Ksh. 20,000 was immediately given by KWS to the family as a consolation.

The boy’s condition had since deteriorated necessitating his referral for treatment in Nairobi. KWS has made arrangement to airlift the boy for treatment in Nairobi. Besides paying Ksh. 57,000 medical bill incurred by the boy at Garissa District Hospital, KWS will also pay treatment fee at the hospital in Nairobi and meet flight costs.

 KWS rangers pursued and eliminated the hyenas. They are also on the ground engaging local communities for sensitization and awareness on human wildlife conflict mitigation measures.