Rescuing the Beast of Burden: Donkey Clinic Empowers Farmers in Chepalungu

By Kimagata Maridany

More than 200 donkey owners drawn from Kyogong area in Chepalungu today benefited from a clinic organized by Farming Systems Kenya in collaboration with County Veterinary department.

Through the clinic, the donkey owners were taken through Donkey welfare and deworming of Donkeys.

Samwel Chege from Farming Systems Kenya said they organized the clinic to help farmers get insights of caring their donkeys.

Chege said many owners only use the donkey and with very little care adding that the clinics helps to encourage locals to know how to care for the animals.

“We have realized that Donkey have been neglected with very little care only being used to serve owners,” said Chege.

Chege said some of the donkeys that were attended to during the clinic were very emaciated and wounds showing that they have been neglected by their owners.

“If you look at some of the donkey that we attended to it is clear locals here do not give them care like other livestock and we are coming in to ensure we safe the beast of burden,” he added.

Veterinary Director Gilbert Koech spear headed the dewormng exercise together veterinary officers exuding confidence on the turn up.

“The turn up today was exciting and this show that farmers from this location are keen on learning Donkey welfare and there we are going to do frequent clinics so that diseases such tetanus are kept at bay,” he said.

Koech said the clinics would also resuscitate donkey population which was quickly declining due to neglect.

“Today due to frequent programs geared at protecting Donkeys we have realized that their population is rising and therefore the outreaches that we have done with Farming Systems Kenya is bearing fruits,” added the Director.

He lauded that farmers saying they are picking advises from vets which has enable donkeys to multiply.
“We are optimistic that with such exercise we are going to see donkey populations doubling in the next two years and to realized that we have lined up monthly clinics so that farmers are equipped fully,” he said.

Dr. Koech also hinted that he county was already drafting an animal welfare bill which would come in handy to guarantee donkeys and other animals that are facing threat safety.

The Farming Systems Kenya officials raised concerns on cases of Donkey theft that have become very rampant in Bomet.

Chege said the cases were as a result of donkey slaughter and their export to international markets like China.

“We have a program dubbed Rapid Response to fight donkey theft and illegal slaughter and the program has significant dealt with cases which lately have reduced,” added Chege
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