Donkeys
As the world celebrates the Donkey Welfare Day on 17 May, donkey owners in Narok are hopeful that the authorities will address rampant theft of the animal across the county.
Mama Nalaidiki Yendo, the chairlady of a donkey farmers’ association dubbed ‘Eshipai Esera’ said donkey theft had escalated in the county that makes them remain vigilant at night to protect their animals.
She reiterated that the beast of burden is a precious animal to the Maa women as they use it to carry out their domestic cores and earn a living from it.
“The donkey is everything to us. It is our source of income, and we commonly refer to it as a co-wife because it is always with us,” she said, adding that donkeys help them transport luggage to the markets during rainy seasons, when the roads are impassable and trek for long distances to fetch water during prolonged dry spells.
She lauded the Brooke organization that works through Farming System Kenya to improve the welfare of donkeys by educating the farmers on how best to take care of their animals so that they can be free from diseases and parasites.
Mama Yendo invited all donkey farmers to ‘Uhuru market’ on Friday to celebrate their day, where they will be taught how to care of their donkeys by officers from the veterinary services.
Samuel Chege an officer with the Farming System Kenya said they began working with donkey farmers in the county since 2016 where they have been training the farmers on animal husbandry.
The organization has also trained local service providers who help to treat donkeys in the villages in case they are sick. Chege said the project has not only benefited the women but also men where they teach team livelihood skills that have helped them better their lives.
“Among the projects we have implemented in the county are digging water pans for the community, distributing pasture seedlings to farmers and training women groups on financial matters,” he said. The donkey welfare day is an important day to help us celebrate the beast of burden and the good work that it does to improve lives in the society.