Nakuru County government has been urged to put in place laws to protect donkeys in the county since the animals play a big role in the socio-economic lives of many ordinary residents of the county.
Speaking to Journalists in Nakuru town after attending a Stakeholders Workshop at Nuru Hotel on Tuesday, director of Brooke East Africa, a subsidiary of the African Network on Animal Welfare (ANAW) Dr. Vincent Oloo noted that there was a need for the County Assembly to pass laws that will help the county government implement policies that will work towards protection of donkeys in the region.
He observed that Nakuru County had a long history of brutality against donkeys as compared to other parts of the country hence, a need for laws that will ensure maximum protection of the endangered beasts of burden.
“It is important to note that though donkeys contribute over 20% of economic gains in this county, there has been a long history of cases of brutality against the animals. We cannot sit back and watch a distinction cloud covering these animals with a rich heritage,’’ said Dr. Oloo.
During the workshop, participants were told of the importance of establishing veterinary centres to cater for the animals’ health and reproduction.
The animal welfare lobby has since embarked on a country wide sensitisation on donkeys’ conservation to boost national heritage and economic gains contribution by the animals which livestock experts and animal welfare advocates fear face extinction.