NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya Wildlife Service has issued a public health alert after residents in Thika, Kiambu County, killed and slaughtered a hyena, with some individuals fleeing with parts of the carcass.
In a statement released late Saturday, KWS said the incident occurred in Kamenu Location in Thika West Sub-County, where the animal had been spotted feeding on dumped poultry remains.
According to the agency, residents surrounded the hyena, chased it down, and killed it before response teams could arrive at the scene.
“Several individuals fled with parts of the carcass, including internal organs,” KWS said, raising concerns about potential exposure to zoonotic diseases.
The wildlife authority strongly warned the public against handling or consuming any meat from the animal, noting that hyenas are scavengers that often carry dangerous pathogens.
“Members of the public are strongly warned not to handle or consume any meat from the animal,” KWS said, citing risks of diseases such as rabies, anthrax, brucellosis, and foodborne infections including salmonella and E. coli.
KWS urged anyone who may have taken part of the carcass to surrender it immediately to authorities and advised those who had come into contact with the meat to seek urgent medical attention.
Under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, the killing, possession, or consumption of wildlife without authorisation is illegal and punishable by law.
The incident has also raised concerns about waste management practices, as the hyena had been attracted to improperly disposed poultry remains—highlighting how human activity can increase human-wildlife conflict in peri-urban areas.
The warning comes just days after KWS officers conducted an operation in Garissa County, where six suspects were arrested, and approximately 200 kilogrammes of suspected giraffe meat recovered along the Garissa–Daadab road.
Authorities also seized a firearm and mobile phones believed to have been used to coordinate the illegal activity.
Wildlife experts caution that the handling and consumption of bushmeat, particularly from scavengers, poses serious health risks and undermines conservation efforts.
KWS reiterated its call for public cooperation, stressing that protecting wildlife and safeguarding public health requires adherence to the law and responsible community practices.
