Residents of Migori County are in shock over the rising incidences of hyenas sneaking into compounds at night and digging up graves.
The hyenas – said to be hunting in packs – have been digging up graves and feeding on dead bodies. Most of the graves are in the cemetery where unclaimed bodies are buried in relatively shallow graves.
Residents have often woken up only to be greeted by human bones and other parts of the anatomy scattered on the fields.
The incidents which was reported at a village in Oruba Ragana ward of Migori County has left residents in shock.
Incessant howls of prowling hyenas and wild dogs has been the sounding chorus in the village with many now taking turns to guard their dead – especially fresh graves.
“I am planning to cement my parent’s grave by the end of the week. I don’t want to wake up one morning only to find my father’s remains scattered in the compound,” Peter Ochieng told Mwanahabari.co.ke.
The hyenas are said to target relatively shallow graves especially in areas that have rocky underlines that often force residents to dig shallow graves when burying their dead.
The recently announced 7:00pm to 4:00am curfew by the government has not helped matters.
“The village is often quiet by 8:00pm. That is the time these wild animals start combing homesteads looking for graves to dig,” said Ochieng.
Another source who did not wish to be named blamed the recent incidents on witchcraft.
“There is a feeling that the hyenas are under a spell from witches who are known to keep them for traditional rituals. There is talk that these witches even keep snakes, crocodiles and hippos which they use to travel at night when performing rituals.”
“Why would a hyena dig a grave for human bones when it can hunt in the bush?” wondered the source.
Sources indicate that graves located away from inhabited places have been the most affected.
Hyenas are known to live alongside humans, and are commonly viewed as frightening and worthy of contempt.
In some cultures, hyenas are thought to influence people’s spirits, rob graves, and steal livestock and children. Other cultures associate them with witchcraft.
Meanwhile, residents of Oruba and other surrounding villages have begun fencing or cementing the graves of their kith and kin lest they get invaded by hyenas and any other animal that prowls the night.