Report links donkey meat trade to Nairobi markets

Burma and Ndunyu meat markets have been identified as some of the outlets where criminal groups involved in donkey theft allegedly supply donkey meat to unsuspecting consumers. A report by the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) on the theft and illegal trade in donkey skins and related products has revealed a disturbing trend that could drive donkeys toward extinction in Kenya if left unchecked. According to the report, Kenya's donkey population declined from 1.8 million in 2009 to 1.1 million in 2019 after the government allowed the establishment of donkey slaughterhouses. The slaughterhouses were later banned in 2020 following concerns over the rapidly shrinking donkey population. The NCRC warns that the lucrative illegal trade not only threatens the survival of donkeys but also poses a serious public health risk. It says the consumption of uninspected meat could expose consumers to diseases such as anthrax and salmonella.