A bray of betrayal: The rising appetite for donkey meat and implications on livelihoods

What is fueling this sudden surge in donkey meat capers across the country? Could it be a daring pursuit of a rising appetite for budget-friendly beef for meat vendors, through donkey rustling or outright theft?

What repercussions does this vice hold for the public health situation in the country? Are we at risk of exposure to zoonotic diseases and other food contaminants? And where does this place us as a nation in terms of treating animals with compassion? are we off the grid?

The hidden trade of donkey skins

Take a trip down memory lane to 2016 when Kenya gave the green light to mass donkey slaughter, welcoming four slaughterhouses across Nakuru, Baringo, Machakos, and Turkana counties. The focus? Donkey skins destined for the production of a Chinese traditional medicine—Ejiao.

Fast forward to February 2020, and the curtain fell on these four abattoirs. Then Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Peter Munya, pulled the plug after donkey owners voiced their complaints about rampant donkey thefts.

The closures were also driven by the dwindling donkey population, with the abattoirs responsible for decimating 15.4 percent of the donkey species in Kenya in a span of three years.

The donkey meat puzzle and dip in beef prices 

In a surprising turn of events, the donkey skin trade is making a comeback, and it's more than just about the skins. According to insights from community members, these merchants are slaughtering donkeys primarily for their skins, leaving the donkey meat as a byproduct.

Their game plan? Dump the meat at throw-away prices, selling it for as low as 100 per kilo at the slaughter sites—a shocking revelation witnessed in the bushes of Ndeiya in Kiambu county and Suswa. 

The thriving meat market in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, and its surrounding areas is the major target, with the public now buying beef meat for a new low of Ksh. 300, despite the biting economic situation in the country.

With this unsettling trend, it's not a matter of if, but rather when our health system will be jolted by this unscrupulous practice.

If you recently visited Burma Market in pursuit of affordable beef, you likely spotted prices as low as Ksh. 300. If you seized this seemingly tempting deal, there's no escaping the reality—you've unintentionally entered the realm of donkey meat consumption.

The hidden dangers lurking in cheap prices

As Kenyans seize the opportunity of reduced beef prices in meat markets, there's a looming threat to public health that cannot be ignored. The questionable conditions of donkey slaughter and transportation to cities create a perfect storm for the onset of zoonotic diseases, putting our well-being at risk.

During transportation, the donkey meat is carelessly thrown into dirty vehicle boots. This unsettling practice is overshadowed by the dire situation at the slaughter spots, which is even more appalling.

This situation directly endangers public health, serving as a breeding ground for zoonotic diseases like brucellosis, tuberculosis, and anthrax, easily transmitted from donkeys to humans in unsanitary and unregulated environments.

The concealed nature of donkey bush slaughter further complicates matters, making it challenging to trace contaminated meat and implement essential health precautions. This lack of oversight not only heightens the risk of disease transmission but also strains healthcare systems, potentially leading to a surge in medical cases and, sadly, even deaths.

Besides this, the consumption of donkey meat procured from bush slaughter could also expose us to other chemicals that the donkey might have been injected with before slaughter, such as antibiotics. This could lead to antimicrobial resistance, posing a major threat to humans in case they get a prescription for antibiotics to which their bodies have already developed resistance due to the consumption of uninspected donkey meat.

Urgent action is imperative to end the donkey bush slaughter, enforcing strict oversight and safety measures. Taking a proactive stance is crucial to prevent the potential health hazards associated with the consumption of unsanitary and unregulated donkey meat, ultimately shielding our communities from the adverse effects of these risky practices.

Stolen donkeys leave hustlers’ livelihoods on the line

In a case reported to Ruai police station on January 6, 2024, Matrine Ombote lost four donkeys, stolen and brutally slaughtered. These donkeys, once the main income source for Matrine and her husband, have left them struggling.

With five kids in primary school, Matrine faces challenges paying school fees, receiving frequent calls from concerned teachers. The loss occurred during the school opening period, adding financial strain as Matrine gathered funds for her children's education.

Matrine's story mirrors that of tens if not hundreds of donkey owners and users facing similar challenges in an already challenging economy. According to a 2019 report by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) titled "The Status of Donkey Slaughter for Skin Trade and Its Implications on the Kenyan Economy," donkeys play a crucial role in the economy.

The KALRO report estimated that each working donkey generates an average income of Ksh.11, 393 per month, which could be lost as some owners continue losing donkeys to the bush slaughter.

It's showtime for government  

Last week, in a social media post, the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Livestock Development, Jonathan Mueke, addressed the escalating threat to the donkey population, highlighting the widespread slaughter for its hide observed in various parts of the country.

Following a meeting with stakeholders, including the African Union Inter-african Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-AIBAR) and the Equine welfare charity organization Brooke East Africa, interventions were discussed and opportunities explored to protect and safeguard the donkey species. It's a call for action that should come into play sooner rather than later!

Time to consider donkeys an endangered species?

Taking this into consideration, is it time for our nation to consider donkeys an endangered species? In just three swift years (2016–18), the four donkey abattoirs placed in Nakuru, Baringo, Turkana, and Machakos counties obliterated a staggering 301,977 of Kenya's donkey population—15.4 percent, as unveiled by the 2019 KALRO report.

KALRO's alarming projection suggests that Kenya might have witnessed the last of its donkey species last year, if the slaughter of donkeys by the four donkey abattoirs continued at the same rate, plummeting from the 2016 count of 1,965,632 according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

Presently, the estimated 1.11 million donkeys in Kenya may well be less than a million, considering the thousands already lost in the bushes due to slaughter. Donkeys, being seasonal breeders, take time before foaling. Amidst this alarming scenario, there is an urgent need to reassess donkeys' status in the country.

Further research into donkey breeding and its sustainability is imperative. The demand from China for their skins not only threatens communities dependent on these animals but also poses a risk to public health, especially with donkeys still being slaughtered in the bushes.

The African Union bray

A resounding voice from the African Union echoes through a report advocating for a halt to the donkey skin trade, gaining official endorsement. This groundbreaking report secured approval during the 5th Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water, and Environment.

Comprising ministers and senior officials from member states, the report's recommendations are set to face the Assembly of Heads of States and Governments for adoption this year, Kenya included. Titled 'Donkeys in Africa Now and In The Future,' the report sheds light on the distressing decline of the donkey population in Africa due to the rampant donkey skin trade.

Over the past decade, hundreds of thousands of donkeys have fallen victim to slaughter for their skins, driven by China's demand for Traditional Chinese medicine. This trade not only jeopardizes the overall donkey population in Africa but also threatens the livelihoods of those who depend on these resilient animals. Born out of the 2022 Pan African Donkey Conference in Tanzania, hosted by AU-IBAR, the report stands as a testament to the urgent need for change.

Government ministers from various African countries, as part of the historic Dar es Salaam declaration, urged the African Union Commission to enforce a continental ban on the donkey skin trade for a minimum of 15 years. The African Union's stance on donkeys is clear — it's time for a transformative shift in protecting these invaluable creatures and the communities that depend on them.

What now?

The rampant donkey bush slaughter poses not only a threat to losing this genetic resource but also a posing threat to public health, jeopardizing the livelihoods of those who depend on them and challenging the ethical treatment of donkeys. 

Urgent government intervention and a re-evaluation of the role of donkeys in our society are imperative to ensure the well-being of both our communities and these resilient animals. The African Union's endorsement adds weight to the call for change, emphasizing the need for a united front to preserve the future of donkeys across the continent.

The writer, Stephen Kiprop, is a passionate advocate for animal welfare and a digital communications specialist.