THARAKA-NITHI: Pregnant woman attacked and killed by hippo

A pregnant woman was killed by a hippopotamus while fetching water at River Thangatha in Tharaka-Nithi County on Thursday. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

A pregnant woman was killed by a hippopotamus while fetching water at River Thangatha in Tharaka-Nithi County on Thursday.

The river at Ng’ong’a-aka village in Tharaka North is on the boundary between Tharaka and Tigania East in Meru.

Mikinduri assistant chief Sebastian Kaumbiri who visited the scene said Judith Mukiri, a mother of two, was fetching water near Gatithini Water Project on River Thangatha at around 9 a.m. when the hippo attacked and knocked her down.

A second victim, Mary Muthoni, escaped death narrowly. She said that the enraged animal kicked the heavily pregnant mother several times before it saw her. She had stopped cultivating in a farm at the bank of the river after hearing screams.

She said the animal left the woman and ran after her but she was swift enough to escape unhurt. It went back to the mother who was still lying down and dragged her into the river.

“When I ran, the animal went back to the woman who was still lying there helpless, bit and dragged her into the water,” said Ms Muthoni.

She alerted the residents who came with arrows and pangas to rescue Ms Mukiri but they could not withstand the wrath of the wild animal.

Mr Kaumbiri called the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers from Meru National Park who came and after trying to drive it out of water for more than three hours unsuccessfully, they decided to shoot it.

TOOK AN HOUR

The 800-kilogramme-animal took the people another one hour to take it out of the water.

The body of the deceased was later found more than 500 metres downstream by the public and KWS officers. The body of the deceased was taken to Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary.

The angry residents embarked on sharing the meat immediately they got the animal out of water.

Mr Peter Muthengi, a resident, said that the animal was enough to feed the whole village.

“Though we are grieved because of the death, every family in the village will eat meat today,” said Mr Muthengi as he cut out his chunk.

They villagers urged the KWS officers to ensure that animals are well-guarded to avoid such horrible incidents from occurring.

“We don’t want more deaths by wild animals. The KWS officers should make sure that the hippos do not go downstream into the rivers that pass through the park now that every stream is swollen following the heavy rains.

They also asked the KWS to compensate family of the victim who has left two young children.