By Our Reporter.
Buoyed by the formation of a donkey Sacco in Meru, Wajir donkey owners are under pressure to start a similar body.
Reuben Wambua, the Deputy Director of Kenya Network Dissemination of Agricultural Technologies (KENDAT), says Meru Governor Peter Munya’s donkey Micro Finance has helped intergrate donkeys into the Agri – business sector. “The political goodwill motivated us to host the 10th Kenya National Annual Donkey Day in Meru,’’ he said. Wajir Town Administrator Isaak Abdi said the animals play an important role in transporting water, charcoal and agricultural to keep the town alive.
He reminded the residents that donkeys provided an economic livelihood and that there was need to manage the donkeys well in order for them to serve the locals better. He threatened to issue a notice barring donkey carts from entering Wajir town if owners don’t form a Sacco.
Abdi had earlier enforced a ban on donkey carts not entering the town without a collecting bag to collect their poop. ‘’You will not be allowed in town without a bag to avoid spread of poop all over the newly build tarmacked road creating a nuisance,’ says a notice.
Kenya has about 1.8 million donkeys of which around three-quarters are used to transport, goods thus playing a key role in the country’s Agricultural sector.
Abdi said by registering a Sacco, the owners will not only improve their trade but live a better life and be able to sort out such teething problems like school fees.
