Eight rogue dogs have in the past been attacking goats, cows and chicken in Gachiege, a village near Meru town, causing havoc under the cover of darkness.
But now, they have started attacking children in broad daylight with four-year-old Emma Nkatha being the latest victim.
“Nkatha was a jovial and God-fearing child. We are going to miss her a lot,” said the girl’s mother, Ms Catherine Kagendo, a 23-year-old Form Two student at Kunene Day Secondary School.
Ms Kagendo was not at home on Sunday evening when her own mother, Ms Gladys Mutuma, 40, sent Emma to collect milk from a neighbour’s home a short distance away.
Before she could even get to the neighbour’s house, Emma was mauled by the rogue dogs.
By the time neighbours came to her rescue, it was too late. The best they could do was chase away the dogs.
Mr Julius Kimathi, Emma’s family spokesman, said she died while undergoing treatment at the Meru Level Five Hospital.
Earlier in the day, Emma — a nursery school pupil — had attended a service with her grandparents at the Nthungu Full Gospel Church.
Pastor Sammy Kirimi recalled that Emma had even helped to carry seats from the church to the store at the end of the service.
Search for justice
Ms Kagendo, a single mother, has asked the police to speed up investigations into the case and hopes that justice would prevail for her family and their neighbours as well. Emma will be buried on Saturday.
A man said to be the dogs’ owner, was questioned by police over the attacks.
The rogue dogs are also said to have attacked 12-year-old Anthony Kariuki who is being treated at an Isiolo hospital, and 40-year-old Naomi Kanorio who climbed a tree to save her life.
Residents have now to running for dear life whenever they see any dog.
Mr Stanley Gitonga, 81, who lives in the village, said a vaccination campaign should be carried out to ensure that all dogs in the area are inoculated against rabies.
“We have to guard ourselves against these beasts and the disease. And the best way is to ensure that they are either killed or the owners ensure that their dogs stay back at home where they are well fed,” he said.
Imenti North District veterinary officer Philip Miaro said vaccination started in February.
However, following Emma’s death, the veterinary office has killed 35 dogs in Nthimbiri and Majengo areas. But more killer dogs are still alive.
Mr Miaro warned that rabies can be life threatening and should be treated as an emergency.
Once symptoms of the disease are fully developed, there is no treatment and victims succumb to a painful death. -Daily Nation
