By Virginia Siebela
As Kenya marked National Donkey Day, fierce activism took center stage in Masinga, Machakos County—a region long plagued by illegal donkey trade.
Determined residents, led by vocal advocate Josphinda Mwende, vowed to stay alert and ensure no trader leaves the market with more than two donkeys, a tactic they say signals suspicious activity.
The community's hardline stance comes amid a worrying rise in bush slaughtering, particularly rampant in Kithyoko area.
During the celebrations held at Thaatha Market in Kithyoko, Masinga Subcounty, Joseph Mwongela Munyoko, CEO of Inades Formation, commended strides in donkey welfare, noting that 113 donkeys had recently been vaccinated.
However, he flagged the urgent need for consistent treatment and deworming programs.
Masinga Assistant County Commissioner Bill Kituzi pledged tighter security measures, revealing that law enforcement would collaborate with local leaders and village elders to crack down on the illegal donkey hide trade.
Farmer Joseph Nzioka also urged his peers to turn to donkey manure as a natural pesticide, promoting organic farming solutions.
The residents praised the government's decision to shut down the Kithyoko abattoir and called for tougher policies to permanently stamp out the illicit trade.
This year’s National Donkey Day theme, “African Commitment to the Preservation of Donkeys Now and in the Future,” highlights the continent-wide resolve to safeguard these animals from exploitation and extinction.
