Calls on the government to ban donkey slaughterhouse businesses took centre stage during this year’s national Donkey Day celebrations.Speaking on Friday at Njoro Park in Nakuru County, Brooke East Africa Kenya Finance and Operations Manager Doris Njiru said the slaughtering of donkeys business has had a negative impact on donkeys’ population in the country.She said in East Africa, Kenya is the only country that has allowed such businesses to take place.“It is only in Kenya where we have allowed this business of donkey slaughter and as Brooke East Africa Kenya, we shall push to ensure a ban on the same,” she said.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Programs Manager at Brooke East Africa Kenya, Elijah Mitheki who said donkeys have had a positive impact in transforming lives of women and youths at grassroots.
He added that the transformation can only go on if the government will move in to stop the businesses of donkey slaughtering in the country.
“These donkeys have been of great importance to our women and youths at grassroots level. Therefore, our appeal to the government is to listen to the cry of donkey farmers and put a ban on the donkey slaughterhouse businesses,” he said.
Kenya currently has only four licensed four donkey slaughterhouses.
Humphrey Wafula from Farming Systems Kenya - one of the partners in organizing the event- decried the continued decrease in donkey population in the country.
With statistics revealing that 3000 donkeys are slaughtered in the country every year, Wafula says if the government does not step in, then, farmers will be affected in the future years.
“We need really to ask ourselves whether the donkey slaughterhouse businesses are really sustainable,” said Wafula.
Area Assistant County Commissioner Lydia Mwatata while admitting that there have been rampant cases of donkey theft, called on farmers to also report such cases so that the law can take its course.
While citing a recent case where the donkey was stolen but later recovered by police in Gatimu-Njoro sub-county, the administrator adding that the security agencies will continue to play their role in ensuring the safety of the animals.
“We are appealing to the donkey farmers to ensure they report whenever their donkeys are stolen so that action can be taken,” said Mwatata.
During the event, Mr and Miss Donkey 2019 were crowned.
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