From 1.9 million in 2016, the country’s donkey numbers have declined to under 500,000, a staggering drop that has triggered alarm among animal welfare groups and rural communities alike.
By Nelson Musungu, Bungoma
As the sun rises over the rolling hills of Mt. Elgon, golden light spills across the fields, revealing a familiar morning ritual.
A farmer, barefoot and weathered by years of toil, gently strokes his donkey’s back, whispering to the animal as it readies for another long day.
This quiet bond between human and beast reflects a deeper connection, one forged by trust, necessity, and survival. The animal has hauled water, firewood, and farm produce.
But even in this serene dawn, a shadow looms. Across Kenya, donkeys are vanishing at an alarming rate, their future threatened by an insatiable demand for their skins beyond the country’s borders.
From 1.9 million in 2016, the country’s donkey numbers have declined to under 500,000, a staggering drop that has triggered alarm among animal welfare groups and rural communities alike.
The sharp decline, according to stakeholders, is largely driven by the booming and illicit international trade in donkey skins, with China being the primary destination.
“Donkeys are facing extinction risks due to unscrupulous international businesses,” says Alfred Juma, Programs and Partnerships Manager at Ripple Effect Kenya. “China depleted its own donkey population, and now they’ve turned to Africa, slaughtering donkeys in droves for their skins.”
Juma spoke during the National Donkey Celebration Day, a solemn occasion now overshadowed by growing fears that the next generation may never see the animal so integral to rural life.
“What is happening is a quiet crisis,” says Juma. “This is not just about donkeys. It’s about our ecosystems, our culture, and the livelihoods of thousands who depend on these animals daily.”
The main driver behind the trade is the high demand for ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine made from donkey-hide gelatin. As China’s own donkey stock dwindled, dealers have cast their nets wide, targeting developing countries with large donkey populations, including Kenya.
“What is happening is a quiet crisis,” says Juma. “This is not just about donkeys. It’s about our ecosystems, our culture, and the livelihoods of thousands who depend on these animals daily.”
In Kenya’s rural communities, donkeys are far more than beasts of burden. They are central to daily life … from ferrying water and firewood to transporting goods to market. In areas where mechanization is still unaffordable, donkeys are lifelines.
“When you lose your donkey, you become the donkey,” Juma says. “It means women and girls, especially, will bear the physical burden. Girls drop out of school to fetch water and firewood — tasks their donkeys once did.”
Beyond their economic contributions, donkeys are seen as gender-sensitive assets. “They reduce the burden on women, contribute to food security, generate income — up to Ksh. 500 a day — and help families access water and markets,” Juma adds.
Ripple Effect Kenya is working at the grassroots level to equip communities with the knowledge and tools to protect their animals. “We are training villagers across the region to ensure donkeys are well cared for and valued,” says Juma. “If donkeys are properly used, they bring immense returns to a household.”
Efforts by both government and non-governmental organizations have borne some fruit. The closure of donkey slaughterhouses in Kenya has slowed the trade, though illegal cross-border transportation remains a threat.
Cheptais Deputy County Commissioner Philip Sigei confirms that donkeys are still being smuggled across the porous Lwakhakha border into Uganda. “We hold frequent security meetings with Ugandan counterparts to address this menace,” he says.
Still, authorities are calling on the public to remain vigilant. Communities are urged to report any suspicious donkey thefts or transport to local authorities.
With numbers declining at an alarming rate, experts like Juma believe only a total ban on donkey exports can save the species in Kenya. “We must take affirmative action,” he urges. “That includes legal reform, community sensitization, and sustainable alternatives for livelihoods.”
“Donkeys are part of our heritage,” Juma concludes. “Preserving them is not just an animal welfare issue, it’s a matter of survival, dignity, and justice for rural families.”
