Having been on the low as far as media attention is concerned, the sale of donkey meat and its products has taken another twist with reports emerging that the math and the figures of the sale have been engineered and do not reflect what the reality is.
A new report by the Kenya Agricultural Research Organisation has indicated that the reports presented by the donkey slaughterhouses are underestimated as they do not reflect what can be sad to be the verifiable truth.
"This figure does not make business sense. A live donkey bought by the abattoir at an average price of Sh9,000 produced an average of 33kg of de-boned meat.
"With each kilogramme sold at Sh109.50 to the export market, each donkey would only be valued at Sh3,613, which is way below the buying price," the report reads in part.
Donkey meat is exported in large quantities to China where it is believed to make medicinal components.
Donkey milk is also consumed locally while its skin and hides is also used to manufacture a wide range of products ranging from belts, shoes and ornaments.
A huge percentage of the donkey meat exported is from Nakuru County where the first donkey slaughterhouse was instituted in 2015 following an early uproar by residents who complained that rogue butchers were selling them donkey meat packaged as beef.
Donkey meat was however found to be fit for consumption and was listed so by the Meat Control [amendment] Act of 2012 alongside horse meat, pork, mutton, and goat meat.
Nakuru County residents are however adamant they will not consume the meat.