Kenya's donkey population drops sharply on theft, slaughter

According to the Kenya Socio-Economic Population and Housing Census Report, the national donkey population has plummeted from 1.8 million in the 2009 census to 1.1 million in 2019.

The Association of Donkey Owners in Kenya (ADOK) has accused the government of failing to protect the country’s donkey population, amid claims that there are considerations of reopening slaughterhouses that were shut down.

Four slaughterhouses, including Goldox Kenya Ltd in Baringo County, Star Brilliant Ltd in Nakuru County, Silzha Ltd in Turkana County, and Fuhai Trading Co. Ltd in Machakos County, were shut down following a 2020 ban.

Activities at the Goldox Kenya Ltd, a donkey slaughterhouse in Mogotio, Baringo on February 28, 2017. Donkey slaughterhouses have been blamed in drastic plunge of donkey numbers. P