An eleven-year-old girl has been put under special care at the Nakuru Referral Hospital after reportedly being attacked by a hyena.
Ripali Renelpita reportedly encountered the animal while herding livestock at her home in Opiroi village in Samburu county, before it pounced on her and badly injured her.
The Friday evening incident saw her sustain deep bites on her neck, face, jaw, limbs and head before she was rushed to the health facility for specialized treatment.
According to Joseph Keriyo, head of clinician services at the facility, the girl was in bad condition when she arrived at the hospital and could neither see nor hear.
“The girl was received in a very critical condition and had facial injuries mostly on the cheeks and eyelids. Because of injuries on the eyes, she cannot see,” Dr Keriyo told the Standard.
He added that medics at the hospital nursed her injuries and stabilized her before being taken to the theatre for reconstruction of her face.
"After several reviews, the patient was taken to theatre for reconstruction of her face among other body parts that were severely injured by hyena bites,” he added.
The girl's father Peter Lokor said that the girl was herding in the bushed when the tragedy hit, and the animal also attacked her mother as she tried to rescue her.
The incident was confirmed by Maralal Chief Selina Lamakara who called upon the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to intervene and prevent such attacks.
Villagers who were responding to the screams of the victim killed the hyena.