Donkey population has reduced considerably and the situation is expected to worsen if nothing is done to protect the endangered animals, this is according to Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW).
The drop in number of donkeys is due to illegal slaughtering of the animals, the demand for their skins is still high and also their meat which ends up being sold to unsuspecting consumers.
Africa Network for Animal Welfare executive director Josiah Ojwang says the population of donkeys in the country had dropped from 1.8 million in the year 2009 to 1.1 million in 2019 (Kenya National Population and Housing Census (2019)this was due to opening of slaughterhouses in the country and export of skins to China.
The slaughterhouses which were shut down in the year 2020 contributed to mass slaughtering of donkeys around the country including Kajiado County.
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The slaughterhouses used to accommodate 1,100 donkeys per day which would have seen total elimination of the animals.
Many donkeys used to be smuggled from neighboring country and slaughtered in Kenya
Ojwang who was speaking during Media Stakeholders and Consultative Workshop on Donkey Welfare in Kajiado County says with partnership with county government of Kajiado they have been able to support protection of the donkeys, this has seen population of donkeys increase to more than 54,000 from 50,153 in the year 2019.
He said many people have lost their livelihood due to the illegal slaughtering of donkeys; donkeys have contributed a lot to the growth economy with research indicating that business people with donkeys make more than ksh 400 per day.
According to Kajiado County Department of Veterinary Services Officer Dr Nazaria Nyaga there was huge drop in numbers of donkeys in Kajiado and they are now working with the NGOs in ensuring there is growth of the population.
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She said the county has passed the Kajiado Animal Welfare Bill 2023 into law to make provision for the protection of animals which include donkeys.
The African Union (AU) implemented a ban on the slaughter of donkeys for their skins, primarily to protect donkey populations and livelihoods in Africa.
The milestone agreement was taken by the African Heads of state on 18 February, 2025 at the 37th African Union Summit held in Ethiopia.
The historic decision will help protect the continent’s 33 million donkeys from being slaughtered but also safeguard tens of thousands of communities across Africa that rely on donkeys for their wellbeing and livelihoods.
By Obegi Malack
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