The recent lifting of the ban on the slaughter of donkeys opens floodgates for arbitrary thefts and unexplained disappearances of the animals, Kitui Caritas director Florence Ndeti has cautioned.
The High Court earlier this month lifted the ban on the slaughter of donkeys imposed last year.
A report by livestock experts shows the population of donkeys in Kitui county, which was over 126,000 donkeys in 2015, will have dropped to 8,000 by the end of next year.
The report prepared by Caritas Kitui, the county government of Kitui and Brooke Action for Working Horses and Donkeys shows that if the slaughtering continues, donkeys risk extinction.
The report says donkeys’ population growth in Kenya stands at 1.04 per cent.
Ndeti urged owners of donkeys in Kitui to protect their animals as they risk being stolen.
“Now that the court has ordered the resumption of donkey slaughter, owners of the animals must know that it is up to them to protect their donkeys lest they be stolen in their numbers and sold to the slaughterhouses,” Ndeti cautioned.
She was speaking to the press after sharing the report last Friday.
Ndeti said Kitui Caritas that runs a donkey welfare programme, was not amused by the court's decision to restore donkey slaughter.
She said the lifting of the ban aptly rekindled bad memories of an upsurge in theft and unexplained disappearances of donkeys.
Ndeti said owners should put donkeys in safe enclosures like any other livestock and give them enough fodder.
She said leaving donkeys to wander freely puts the animals in danger of being stolen and slaughtered.
“I want donkey owners, including those not enrolled in our donkey welfare project, to know that their animals are endangered and must be protected at all cost,” Ndeti said.
The Kitui government is drafting a donkey welfare policy on how to handle, take care and protect donkeys to ensure they are not exposed to cruelty and unfair treatment.
Veterinarian Joseph Kamonzo disclosed that the Kitui County Donkey Welfare Policy would be in place by the end of this year.
“Experts have concluded the draft policy, sooner rather than later, it will be on the desk of our county executive member who will in turn forward it to the county assembly for approval,” he said.
