Donkey stakeholders have celebrated the decision by the African Heads of State to ban the slaughter of donkeys in the continent for the next 15 years.
The stakeholders drawn from Narok, Nakuru, Baringo, and Nyandarua counties who met at Uhuru Market in Narok town to commemorate the Donkey Welfare Day said the ban was a big gain for donkey farmers.
Dr. Benson Kibore, the Director of Farming System Kenya, recognised a donkey as a precious animal as it helps improve livelihoods for people living in rural areas.
The ban that was adopted at the 37th African Union (AU) Summit held in Ethiopia on February 18 this year was aimed at ensuring the welfare and sustenance of communities across Africa who depend on donkeys.
The director said the population of donkeys was dwindling, but with the new directive, the numbers of the beast of burden are expected to rise again.
“Donkeys in this region will have enhanced protection following the new directive. The Donkeys in Africa will have enhanced protection from the devastating donkey skin trade, which was very rampant,” he said.
Dr. Kibore called on donkey farmers to form groups where they can articulate the issues affecting them as well as benefit from training from his organisation.
Dr. Benard Njau from the Narok Veterinary Department said the ban was a major achievement for the Africans who use the donkey to transport their goods through impassable roads.
Dr. Njau said any person transporting a donkey should have a permit, meaning no donkey should be seen moving from one county to another without a movement permit.
“Currently, the director of veterinary services has stopped the issuance of movement permits for donkeys so as to curb the animals’ trade. This will help the population of donkeys to continue increasing,” he said.
The veterinary officer said all animals have a right to be guarded, saying any person who mistreats a donkey should be arrested and prosecuted in court.
“A donkey should not be canned because it also has its rights. There is no time when this animal should feel pain. You should train your animal so that it can receive instructions without being mistreated,” he reminded.
Narok Central Assistant County Commissioner Ali Shakur reiterated that they are keen on ensuring the movement of donkeys and the sale of donkey meat are not conducted in the county.
“In the 2009 census report, the population of donkeys in Kenya was 1.8 million. The number decreased in 2019, and it could further decrease if the ban is not imposed by the African leaders, “he said.
Director of Programmes, Brookes East Africa, Elijah Mithigi, said his organisation supports donkey farmers to improve their livelihoods by training them to diversify their source of income.
During the celebrations, over 300 donkeys, dogs, and cats were vaccinated against tetanus and rabies free of charge.
Margeret Wambui, a donkey farmer from Baringo County, said many people who are not formally employed have been helped by a donkey to gain a livelihood.
“Before, we would send our girls to fetch water in faraway places, which was not safe for them, but things have changed in modern days as we use a donkey to go to the river to bring enough water that can run for many days,” she said.
Another farmer, Margeret Mpatiany, thanked the government for putting initiatives in place to protect the beast of burden and challenged the farmers to also collaborate with the authority to report any suspicious person who buys donkeys for slaughter.
“During seasons of heavy rainfall, the elderly, sick, and children were being transported by donkeys to move from flooded places to safer grounds because no vehicle could access the area,” he said.
By Ann Salaton
