Donkey welfare groups and farmers in the country have protested a move by a Naivasha High Court to lift the ban on slaughter of donkeys. 

They lamented the decision which paves way for slaughterhouses to continue with their operations was a blow to stakeholders in averting the extinction of the animals.  

Farming Systems Kenya acting Executive Director Humphrey Wafula said donkeys have been a major contributor to economic growth for the rural population. 

He noted that since the ban was effected by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, the number of theft cases reduced drastically throughout the country. 

Wafula said the court’s decision will derail their hard gained efforts in the fight against the menace which is threatening to wipe the animal. 

“We can confirm that since the ban by Agriculture CS came to effect, Nakuru, Narok, Baringo and Bomet counties witnessed a drop in donkey theft,” said Wafula. 

Major beneficiaries

He noted that the abattoirs are major beneficiaries of stolen animals saying they should remain closed for the benefit of all parties. 

“Be on the watch and you will see that very soon the vice will creep in, once slaughter resumes the cases will be overwhelming,” he added. 

He noted that they will be meeting with other stakeholders and chat a way forward on the court’s decision and see if they will appeal. 

Echoing the same sentiments, Brooke East Africa CEO Raphael Kinoti said the decision was disappointing to welfare groups and the farmers who depend on the donkeys for their livelihood. 

He noted that the case was a public interest matter and the way it was handled has left them to wonder how the decision was reached upon. 

“The case seems to have been struck out on technicalities and not substance and we will have to engage our legal team after going through the final,” said  

He said they fully support agriculture CS on protecting farmers welfare rights calling on the government to come up with more measures to stop the trade. 

Kinoti wants the suspension of the trading licenses for the four major slaughterhouses to be extended until all stakeholder come with a lasting solution to kick out the trade. 

“We want to ensure that there is no more slaughter of donkeys in this country since it has no benefit to the economy of the country and farmers,” said Kinoti.  

Stop operations

Last year, Munya directed the management of the slaughterhouses to stop operations following concern that the number of the animals were on the decline. 

The affected slaughterhouses were Star Brilliant in Naivasha, Goldox Kenya in Baringo, Silzha in Turkana and Fuhai in Machakos. 

James Mwamba a donkey farmer, noted that a research done by Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) revealed that the business was unsustainable saying the rate of production for donkey was still low. 

“We are convinced that this trade is not sustainable, and the government should come up with ways the same can be banned completely,” said Wafula. 

He said there had been a spate of disappearances saying they were being illegally transported to abattoirs and slaughtered, later exported outside the country as cargo. 

“There is no local consumption for donkey meat and its products, you wonder why the government is still allowing such a business to thrive,” said Mwamba.