Nine people mauled by leopard in Kericho

Nine people are nursing injuries at the Kericho District Hospital after they were mauled by a stray leopard at Turguita village in Waldai, Belgut Sub-county.

According to doctors at the hospital, six of the victims are in stable condition while three sustained serious injuries.

An eyewitness, Robert Rugut, said the leopard invaded the village early Friday and devoured two goats, prompting the local residents to mount a search for the wild cat but they could not trace the animal.

Later in the evening, at around 5.30pm, the leopard, which was believed to have been hiding in a nearby bush, emerged and attempted to pounce on a bull but was spotted by a cattle herder who raised the alarm.

Villagers armed with crude weapons surrounded the leopard and attempted to attack it but the animal fought back injuring nine of them. This did not deter the locals who went on to fight the animal until they speared it down.

Belgut MP Nelson Koech appealed to Kenya Wildlife Service officers to visit the area and assist the residents in trapping the young ones of the animal.