Donkey on the Rampage: Woman Bitten, Son Injured in Machakos Animal Attack
A Machakos family is reeling from shock and distress after their once-docile donkey turned violent, biting a woman and later injuring her son in two separate incidents allegedly driven by the animal’s mating instincts.
Selina Ndinda, the owner of the donkey and one of the victims, recounted how the shocking attack unfolded. On Friday, while trying to break up a fight between her donkey and a neighbor’s, Ndinda was bitten in both arms and pinned down in the mud before a neighbor intervened to rescue her.
“I was trying to separate the donkey from fighting with the neighbour’s donkey, and in the process, it bit me in the arm, and I fell in the mud. Luckily, one of the neighbours rushed and drove it away,” she told reporters.
The situation worsened three days later when the donkey turned on her 38-year-old son, leaving him with a fractured leg. He is currently admitted to Machakos Level 5 Hospital, where the family is struggling to access affordable treatment. Ndinda noted that she could not afford the KSh 5,000 needed for rabies medication and has yet to receive the jab herself.
Ndinda now fears for her family’s safety and is contemplating starving the animal to death or selling it. She suspects the donkey may have been agitated while searching for a mate—a view echoed by some residents.
Witnesses confirmed that donkeys, particularly males, can become aggressive when idle or in heat. “If these animals are not put to work regularly, they can turn wild,” said David Musembi, a local resident.
The area chief, Daniel Maweu, confirmed the incident and described it as highly unusual. He said agricultural officers from Machakos County had visited the scene and would relocate the donkey. “It’s not common to find such cases. So, it’s advisable to seek medical services at a public general hospital to get treatment,” Maweu stated.
This alarming incident has highlighted the need for greater awareness of animal behavior among livestock owners and the importance of timely access to medical care for victims of animal attacks.
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Donkey on the Rampage: Woman Bitten, Son Injured in Machakos Animal Attack