In the Kikuyu traditional folktales, a hyena was one animal that was associated with many societal ills like greed, opportunism, foolishness just to name but a few owing to its typical inborn nature.
By Ndung'u Wa Gathua
For instance, a greedy person would be likened to this greedy animal. An opportunist on the other hand, would be described as, 'ahana ta hiti iria irumagirira muthii ina itanya ati ahota kurekia guoko irie' (he/she is like that hyena that follows a passerby hoping that they will drop their swinging hand so that it can eat).
In fact, in Kikuyu oral literature there are so many Kikuyu metaphors, similies, proverbs and folktales associated with the hyena that we cannot exhaust them here.
That said, in this story we shall focus on what is otherwise termed by the Kikuyus as 'Watho wa Hiti' (Law of the Hyena) or the Law of Greed. What is 'watho wa hiti' you wonder?
Well, it simply states that 'kindu kioneku gititigagwo' (something that is readily available should be utilized).
Below we discuss how the law is applied among the members of the Kikuyu community and which as you will note, has both positive and negative applications.
1. Striking the Iron While it is Still Hot
Since a hyena in its greedy natural formation is led by the stomach, once it comes across something it can eat, it doesn't waste its 'precious' time figuring out whether to eat or leave it behind, it just deploys its canines into it with zero regard that the thing in question could even end up killing it.
Similarly, Kikuyus while applying this law, will argue that an opportunity that shows up by sheer luck or design should be utilized fully without much ado. After all, 'munyaka nduri mwene' (luck has no owner).
This is widely a positive aspect of the law that is perhaps the basis of the entrepreneurial nature of Kikuyus.
2. Stealing
Driven by the spirit of the hyena law, some wayward members of the community will try and turn other people's possessions into theirs without their respective owners' consent or knowledge. Without trying to be euphemistic, you can simply call it stealing, swindling, or whatever other word that fits your situation.
3. Propagating Sexual Immoralities
If there is one thing that fornicators, philanderers and other members of the aforementioned ilk use to justify their immoral sexual escapades, it is the law of the hyena.
Men especially will quote one of the many laws of the hyena to justify their philandering nature and walk tall on both feet convinced that they have committed no wrong!