Heshimu Punda for Household Livelihoods Systems (HP4HLS)
Donkeys benefiting
According to 2009 Kenya Population and Housing Statistics, there are 1,832,519 donkeys in Kenya. The highest concentration of donkeys is found in the Rift Valley region with 988,647 donkeys, followed by Eastern and North Eastern regions with 304,249 donkeys and 382,345 donkeys respectively. It is estimated that about three quarters of these donkeys are working animals used for transport, tillage and milling operations, and used mainly within rural and peri-urban areas. In majority of areas, the donkeys are used mainly by the youth (15 – 25 years) in peri-urban areas while women are the majority users in rural areas.
An estimate of about 90 percent of working donkeys in Kenya are used mainly by young men for commercial purposes for transport of goods, either as pack and/ or in pulling carts. In rural areas, women are main users mostly to transport water and firewood or charcoal. Nationally, it is estimated that about a third of the working donkey population is in poor welfare status. The animals suffer from various diseases, injuries, malnutrition, hoof abnormalities and depression, leading to high death rates in some areas. Many of the problems associated with donkey suffering are due to abuses, mistreatments and negligence by owners/ users, inadequate resources, cultural beliefs and myths, conflicts as well as natural calamities such as drought.
Heshimu Punda
The Brooke/KENDAT (Heshimu Punda) partnership project is currently being implemented directly in three regions: Mwea, Lari and Limuru, and supports limited emergency response service in Nairobi area. Within the project areas, the donkeys are commonly used for transport either as pack or in pulling carts. Currently, the Heshimu Punda (HP) programme is reaching about 60,000 donkeys, in both the current project areas and additional ones in Meru, Kericho, Rarieda and Nairobi areas. In order to address the welfare challenges, HP will provides emergency treatment to needy donkeys, train and equip LSPs with knowledge and skills to provide quality veterinary services, and train owners/ users to handle and control their donkeys in a welfare friendly manner, identify diseases/ conditions in good time and take appropriate actions (seek treatment, provide first aid and home care) as well as prevent future occurrence. Through trainings and discussions owners and users will be empowered with knowledge and skills that will promote good attitude and behaviour towards donkeys. The adoption of welfare friendly practices will lead to better husbandry and management hence reduction in number of donkeys suffering from wounds and ectoparasites. Equipping school children with knowledge and skills on donkey welfare will enable them to implement and influence good husbandry practices in their homes and neighbourhood. This will decrease the number of donkeys suffering due to poor husbandry.
