Closeup picture of an African cheetah running very fast and throwing up dust.
© Mateo JuricCloseup picture of an African cheetah running very fast and throwing up dust.
A Junior Secondary School pupil at Mweromuthanga Primary School in Muthara Ward, Meru County, is nursing serious injuries after being attacked by a cheetah while going to school.

According to community members, the boy raised alarm on Friday morning as he fought off the animal while trying to rescue himself.

His efforts, however, proved futile but the animal disappeared into thick bushes when the locals arrived at the scene.

Area Senior Chief John K Mamira witnessed and confirmed the incident, advising residents and their school-going kids to be wary of dangerous animals marauding at night.

This comes as the area residents have been complaining to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) about the dangerous wild animals that have been attacking and killing their domestic animals in vain.

They said it was not the first time wild animals have attacked people in the locality, adding that there have been deaths every year.

Last month, herds of elephants invaded farms a few kilometres from Friday's scene of attack and killed a 30-year-old man and destroyed crops worth millions of shillings.

Similarly, last year hyenas attacked herders in the lower areas of Muthara, biting three people who were later treated and discharged.

The pupil has since been taken to Muthara sub-county hospital in Meru County for treatment.