- Karatina University issued a safety alert after a leopard and her cubs were spotted roaming in the school premises
- Students and staff have been urged to exercise caution and avoid areas around botanical garden
- A tragic Valentine’s Day incident at Karatina University resulted in the fatal stabbing of a student, leading to arrests and a manhunt for the prime suspect
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TUKO.co.ke journalist Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Karatina University has issued a safety advisory to all students and staff following the sighting of a leopard and her two cubs within the university’s botanical garden.
The unexpected presence of the wild animals has prompted the university administration to take immediate action to ensure the well-being of the university community.
In an official memo circulated to all students and staff members, Senior Assistant Dean of Students, Joseph Wanjau, urged everyone to exercise extreme caution, and avoid particular areas near the botanical garden where the leopard was seen.
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“This is to inform all students and staff of a roaming leopard with two cubs. The leopard was spotted at the university’s botanical garden,” read part of the memo.
The university administration reassured all concerned parties that the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) had been contacted to capture and relocate the stray leopard and her cubs.
Hyena attack at Multimedia University sparks protests
In February 2024, panic and unrest engulfed Multimedia University in Nairobi after a hyena attacked and severely injured 21-year-old student, Kelvin Mwenda.
In response, students staged a protest, halting academic activities and disrupting traffic along Magadi Road. They demanded the KWS to take action to prevent wild animals from straying onto campus from the nearby Nairobi National Park.
Hyena attacks have become a growing concern in Kenya, with recent incidents reported in residential areas and institutions.
Rabies blamed for increasing hyena attacks
KWS linked the hyena attacks to rabies infections, assuring the public that measures have been implemented to address the issue.
Following the incident where a hyena attacked a student at Multimedia University, KWS successfully captured the animal and sent samples to the National Veterinary Reference Laboratories (NVRL) in Kabete.
The tests confirmed the hyena was rabid, indicating the hyenas’ increased aggression were caused by the rabies infections. KWS explained that the rabies virus likely triggered the unusual violent behavior observed in Juja and Kajiado.
Karatina University student killed by lover on Valentine’s Day
In a separate incident, a tragic event on Valentine’s Day at Karatina University led to the death of 21-year-old first-year student, Bonita Ngatha Kariuki.
She was brutally stabbed in a male hostel, allegedly by her boyfriend, in what is suspected to be a love triangle.
Nyeri police arrested two suspects linked to the murder, while the prime suspect, 25-year-old Kelvin Nyagah, also a first-year student, remains at large.
This version provides a more detailed and comprehensive account of the leopard sighting at Karatina University, enhancing narrative depth while maintaining an informative and balanced tone.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
