Stray dogs giving Chuka residents sleepless nights
Ms Ann Wanja, the mother of Blessings Makena, a Grade One pupil who was attacked by a pack of stray dogs while walking to school in Chuka town, Tharaka Nithi County on December 1, 2021.
Residents of Kathwa village in the outskirts of Chuka town have been held hostage by stray dogs that have been attacking people thereby preventing children from going to school.
The dogs, about 20 in number, have made life difficult in the area, as they also prey on livestock at night.
According to the residents, the dogs have camped at a nearby valley that separates the village from Chuka town but come out to roam in the village endangering children walking to school.
On Wednesday morning, an eight-year-old girl Blessings Makena narrowly escaped death after the dogs attacked her at the Nkobi valley as she was walking to school.
The Grade One pupil at Chuka Township Primary School was knocked down by the dogs and bitten several times before she was rescued by villagers who had heard her screaming for help.
She was rushed to Chuka County Referral Hospital where she was administered an anti-rabies injection and admitted for treatment of the wounds.
Ms Ann Wanja, her mother, said she usually escorts her daughter to school but on Wednesday she asked her to walk alone hoping that she would be safe.
“My daughter was attacked by about 10 dogs and bitten several times on the legs, hands and the back,” she said.
Killing the stray dogs
Mr Gilbert Kithinji, a village elder, said the dogs have attacked seven people in the last few months and mauled several sheep, goats and chicken.
He said though some of the dogs belong to the villagers, they fled from their homes and joined the ones that were roaming freely in Chuka town.
“The stray dogs have forced parents to always take their children to school and pick them in the afternoon for fear of attacks. People no longer walk at night,” said Mr Kithinji.
Ms Frida Wanja, a community health volunteer, said they reported the matter at Chuka Sub County public health office in Chuka town but the officers said they no longer have the mandate to eliminate stray dogs.
“The public health officers said they no longer have the responsibility of killing the stray dogs and asked us to take necessary steps,” said Ms Wanja.
