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Donkey homeowners in Narok County have raised concern over a current wave of donkey theft that’s giving them sleepless evening.
The donkey keepers mentioned tens of donkeys have disappeared from the realm within the current previous with no hint, questioning the place their valuable animals might be going.
Led by Affiliation of Donkey Homeowners of Kenya (ADOK), Narok Department Chairperson Ms. Margaret Mpatiany mentioned over 50 donkeys have been reported lacking in a span of two months within the county.
“We’re questioning the place our animals are going. They’re largely stolen within the evening and makes an attempt to observe them have been in useless,” mentioned Ms. Mpatiany.
She described the beast of burden because the ‘girls’s autos’ that assist to move their items to the market, particularly through the rains seasons when the roads are impassable.
“Due to the donkey, we as Maasai girls don’t trouble the federal government to cut back the price of gasoline, we now have prepared transport with us. However with the brand new development of stealing our donkeys, we’re afraid we could begin on the lookout for assist from the federal government,” he mentioned.
She reiterated the significance of a donkey in serving to enhance the livelihood of the much less lucky individuals in society as they will go lengthy distances to fetch important commodities like water and firewood.
The chairlady recalled that when the slaughterhouses in Mogotio- Baringo County and Naivasha have been closed, the theft of donkeys stopped, elevating concern that the brand new development might have been fueled by the re-opening of the donkey slaughterhouses.
One other donkey farmer from Nkaretta space in Narok Central Sub County Ms. Josephine Nasieku lamented that her two donkeys have been stolen within the wee hours of the evening final month and makes an attempt to find them have been futile.
She mentioned her donkey has helped to teach her kids to tertiary degree and develop her grain enterprise as she simply transports her baggage to {the marketplace}.
“You can’t separate a donkey from us girls. It’s our essential supply of revenue. We name it our co-wife as a result of it helps us do the work that one other lady can do,” she mentioned.
Mzee Francis Ole Kool from the Olaimutia space mentioned his 5 donkeys have been stolen within the evening hours in his homestead two months in the past and efforts to hint them have been in useless.
Ole Kool questioned why the donkey thieves don’t take away different livestock like sheep, goats or cows however solely steal donkeys.
“If donkeys get completed within the space, we’re doomed. It’s because the animal helps us transport items for lengthy distances for free of charge. For instance, to get clear water on this space throughout dry seasons, one has to trek for about 15 kilometers. That is solely potential with the assistance of a donkey,” he mentioned.
In line with John Wainaina of Farming System Kenya, a donkey’s gestation interval is 12 months and takes over two years earlier than conceiving, not like different livestock that take a shorter interval.
By Ann Salaton
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