Fear Grips Kirinyaga Villages as Hippos Invade Homes Near River Sagana

Residents living near River Sagana in Kirinyaga County are living in constant fear after hippos began wandering into their homesteads at night, destroying crops and putting lives at risk. Villagers from several areas in Ndia constituency say the animals have increasingly strayed from their natural habitat, leaving communities worried about their safety and livelihoods.

According to local residents, the most affected areas include Mirugo, Chika Adabu, Karura, Ngando, and Ugaciku villages in Ndia. The hippos are believed to originate from nearby water bodies and are sometimes spotted resting in the Karura swamp before moving into nearby homes and farms. Community members say the situation has become increasingly dangerous as the animals roam freely at night.

One resident, John Muriithi from Shika Adabu village, narrated a frightening experience when three hippos invaded his compound late at night. He said he was forced to shout loudly to scare them away before they slowly retreated back towards the swamp.

Another villager, Joseph Maingi from Karura village, described how he narrowly escaped an attack after a hippo charged in his direction. He said he survived by lying still on the ground until the animal moved away. Meanwhile, Diana Wakiini said five hippos invaded her farm and destroyed all her crops, leaving her family without food or income from the harvest.

Women in the community say the situation has forced families to change their daily routines. Many residents now avoid moving around at night due to fear of encountering the animals. Some households have even taken unusual precautions to remain indoors after dark. One resident said she had asked her husband to spend the night elsewhere after failing to return home early because the family feared the hippos roaming near their compound.

Residents are now calling on authorities and wildlife officials to urgently step in and address the growing human-wildlife conflict before the situation worsens. They are urging the government to relocate the hippos or put measures in place to protect communities living near the river.