Is it only me or has everyone noticed the cruel treatment of donkeys by water vendors in Athi River town?
Granted, Athi River town suffers from acute shortage of water.
Most taps are dry and these water vendors, using donkeys as a means of transport, has been and is still of much help to residents of Mavoko but the way they manhandle these poor animals leaves a lot of pain and sympathy to those who mind animal welfare.
The donkeys are overloaded and forced to pass between heavy lorries and matatus posing a great danger to their lives on the roads.
They are whipped and their most often open wounds are neglected.
Is this happening because there are no strict laws that deal with offenders? The cap 360 of the Kenyan law of 1984 and that was revised in 2012 aims at preventing cruelty to animals and offenders are liable to 6 months imprisonment or a fine Sh 3,000 or both.
According to the law, (domestic) animals have freedom from thirst, hunger, pain, injury, fear and diseases.