Why donkeys deserve voice in animal welfare agenda
By Calvin Onyango, July 29, 2025From dawn to dusk, in rural villages and peri-urban centres of Kenya, a familiar figure moves quietly beneath sacks of firewood, jerrycans of water, bundles of market produce or pulling an overloaded cart.
The donkey, gentle and hardworking, carries more than physical loads; they also bears the weight of the communities that depend on them for their livelihoods and resilience.
Yet, despite the vital role they play, their suffering rarely made headlines or policy briefs – until recently.
Donkeys are the invisible backbone of Kenya’s informal economy.
They ferry water to drought-stricken homesteads, transport firewood and farm produce to market, and deliver construction materials across terrains impassable by motor vehicles.
For thousands of households, particularly those led by women, a donkey represents more than an animal – they are a vital means of survival.
It is no exaggeration to say that in some communities, losing a donkey can plunge a family into poverty.
Regardless of their contribution, donkeys are undervalued compared to other livestock – uncounted in censuses and marginalised in policy.
Although many owners, particularly women, regard their donkeys as co-workers and companions, a lack of resources and infrastructure means they are often overworked, underfed and not provided with basic veterinary care.
The result is that many working donkeys have a low quality of life and die much younger.
It is not uncommon to see donkeys with open wounds, untreated infections, or visible signs of lameness from injuries left to fester.
Although Kenya’s legal framework offers some protection through the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, adherence and enforcement are inconsistent, especially for working animals like donkeys.
The Donkey Sanctuary Kenya, along with partners in the International Coalition for Working Equids, has raised red flags on the abuse and neglect donkeys face.
But these efforts struggle for attention in a public and policy space where domestic pets and wildlife attract more sympathy, visibility, and funding.
What compounds this crisis is the persistent threat of the donkey skin trade, driven by global demand for ejiao, a Traditional Chinese Medicine made from donkey skins.
The Donkey Sanctuary published figures revealing that at least 5.9 million donkeys are slaughtered
annually for their skin to make ejiao, decimating donkey populations across Africa and the world. This exploitation led to the African Union’s 2024 agreement to implement a continent-wide moratorium on donkey slaughter for skin and develop an Africa-wide preservation strategy.
Although the Kenyan government has revoked and refused to re-license commercial donkey slaughterhouses since 2020, the illicit trade thrives underground.
Criminal networks steal donkeys from communities under the cover of darkness, transporting them across counties or borders.
Entire villages have reported losing their donkey populations virtually overnight.
The most heinous crime is the brutal, illegal bush mass-slaughter of donkeys, with hordes of carcass remains found in the bushes.
These disappearances represent real economic devastation for families. Our latest report, “Stolen Donkeys, Stolen Futures”, provides stark evidence of the impact on women and children.
In rural Kenya, donkey theft is rife, with 29 out of 30 women (over 90 per cent) in one community having had their donkeys stolen.
The loss represents a 73 per cent drop in household income, the difference between modest survival and destitution.
In a country where donkeys play a major role in millions of people’s livelihoods, the silent suffering of the donkey and this insidious trade should not continue unchecked.
It is time we give voice to these voiceless workers. This is not merely a question of animal welfare, but a matter of fairness, sustainability, and human dignity.
By protecting donkeys, we protect the communities that depend on them. It is time to act.
The writer is the Country Director at The Donkey Sanctuary Kenya