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- Jul 1, 2018
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Kenya’s agriculture minister has banned the slaughter of donkeys and ordered the closure of all donkey abattoirs in the country.
Peter Munya gave the owners of the Kenya’s four donkey abattoirs a month to transition to slaughtering other livestock such as cattle and goats. The minister said those who did not comply would have their businesses closed.
Mr Munya’s announcement came late on Monday, after speaking to a group of farmers who had been protesting outside the agricultural ministry's offices.
Farmers say an increase in demand has led to rampant theft of their donkeys.
In rural Kenya, donkeys are an essential part of life, relied on to fetch firewood and water among other uses, and it is a taboo to eat donkey meat in some communities.
There are fears in Kenya that the country's donkey population could be wiped out if nothing is done to stop the slaughter rate.
It is estimated that as many as 1,000 donkeys are being slaughtered every day, and that the population could be wiped out in 10 years.
Exports to China have driven the demand as the gelatine produced from boiling donkey skins is the essential ingredient in Chinese "ejiao" products - popular health foods and traditional medicines.
When the first donkey abattoir was set up in 2016, an adult donkey sold for about $50 (£39), but prices have skyrocketed to about $200, according to a recent report by the Africa Network for Animal Welfare.
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Waziri wa Kilimo, Peter Munya ametoa onyo hilo na kuagiza kufungwa kwa machinjio yote ya Punda huku akiwataka wamiliki kuchinja Wanyama wengine kama Ng'ombe
Ametoa maagizo hayo baada ya Wakulima kuandamana nje ya ofisi yake wakidai kutokana na kuongezeka kwa mahitaji ya Punda, kumeibuka wimbi kubwa la wizi wa Wanyama hao
Katika maeneo ya Vijijini, Punda ni sehemu muhimu ya maisha kwani hutegemewa katika kuchota maji, kubeba kuni na shughuli nyingine na ni mwiko kula nyama ya Punda katika jamii zingine
Aidha, Kuna hofu kuwa Punda nchini humo wanaweza kuisha ikiwa hakuna hatua itakayochukuliwa kuzuia uchinjaji. Inakisiwa Punda 1,000 wanachinjwa kila siku na wanaweza kuisha ndani ya miaka 10 ijayo
Machinjio ya kwanza yalipoanzishwa nchini humo mwaka 2016, Punda mkubwa alikuwa akiuzwa kwa USD 50 (Tsh. 115,492) lakini kwa mujibu wa taarifa hivi karibuni bei imefikia USD 200 (Tsh. 461,969)
Peter Munya gave the owners of the Kenya’s four donkey abattoirs a month to transition to slaughtering other livestock such as cattle and goats. The minister said those who did not comply would have their businesses closed.
Mr Munya’s announcement came late on Monday, after speaking to a group of farmers who had been protesting outside the agricultural ministry's offices.
Farmers say an increase in demand has led to rampant theft of their donkeys.
In rural Kenya, donkeys are an essential part of life, relied on to fetch firewood and water among other uses, and it is a taboo to eat donkey meat in some communities.
There are fears in Kenya that the country's donkey population could be wiped out if nothing is done to stop the slaughter rate.
It is estimated that as many as 1,000 donkeys are being slaughtered every day, and that the population could be wiped out in 10 years.
Exports to China have driven the demand as the gelatine produced from boiling donkey skins is the essential ingredient in Chinese "ejiao" products - popular health foods and traditional medicines.
When the first donkey abattoir was set up in 2016, an adult donkey sold for about $50 (£39), but prices have skyrocketed to about $200, according to a recent report by the Africa Network for Animal Welfare.
*****
Waziri wa Kilimo, Peter Munya ametoa onyo hilo na kuagiza kufungwa kwa machinjio yote ya Punda huku akiwataka wamiliki kuchinja Wanyama wengine kama Ng'ombe
Ametoa maagizo hayo baada ya Wakulima kuandamana nje ya ofisi yake wakidai kutokana na kuongezeka kwa mahitaji ya Punda, kumeibuka wimbi kubwa la wizi wa Wanyama hao
Katika maeneo ya Vijijini, Punda ni sehemu muhimu ya maisha kwani hutegemewa katika kuchota maji, kubeba kuni na shughuli nyingine na ni mwiko kula nyama ya Punda katika jamii zingine
Aidha, Kuna hofu kuwa Punda nchini humo wanaweza kuisha ikiwa hakuna hatua itakayochukuliwa kuzuia uchinjaji. Inakisiwa Punda 1,000 wanachinjwa kila siku na wanaweza kuisha ndani ya miaka 10 ijayo
Machinjio ya kwanza yalipoanzishwa nchini humo mwaka 2016, Punda mkubwa alikuwa akiuzwa kwa USD 50 (Tsh. 115,492) lakini kwa mujibu wa taarifa hivi karibuni bei imefikia USD 200 (Tsh. 461,969)
