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Two Injured in Scramble for Hippo Meat

The East African Standard (Nairobi)

February 23, 2005

Cyrus Ombati
Nairobi

Two people were injured as villagers scrambled for meat from a hippo that was killed by a vehicle along Thika Road yesterday.

The hippo lay near Clayworks Factory on the busy Thika highway near Kenyatta University for several hours after a speeding vehicle hit it.

Armed with all manner of tools, passersby and local residents rushed to the scene to get a slice of the rare meat.

"I have eaten hippo meat in the past and I know how sweet it is. Let us have the meat," a man said as he ran to the scene.

The injured men were stabbed on the legs and hands as they struggled to get a piece of meat from the carcass.

In the confusion, others exchanged blows and kicks after they disagreed on who would get what.

Skinning the hippo, which is considered one of Africa's most dangerous animals, sparked off more chaos before police arrived and restored calm.

One of the locals was arrested for attempting to stab his colleague.

The police and Kenya Wildlife Service wardens attempted to haul away the carcass but it was too heavy.

The young hippo, weighing about 800 kg, was knocked down by the vehicle as it crossed the road at 6am.

No passenger was injured in the vehicle, which rolled and landed on its side. A crowd quickly gathered on receiving the news.

The officers picked 10 men to assist in skinning the hippo after the crowd became hostile.

After skinning it, the villagers were ordered to queue for the meat, causing a stampede as the officials made efforts to control them.

Only half of the crowd got something to carry home. Some literally pocketed the meat as others stuffed theirs into plastic bags and sacks.

It was not clear where the young animal had come from but residents suspect it strayed from a dam in the area.

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