In the month of May, 2023, Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW), with the support of The Brooke East Africa, and in conjunction with the Veterinary Department of Kajiado County government, conducted a successful National Donkey Day commemoration activity in Rombo, Kajiado County.

The event involved carrying out community extension services and outreach for better donkey care, and a donkey health clinic that involved vaccination, wound care and general donkey management.

There was also robust media engagement during the commemoration event with scribes drawn from KTN News, The Standard Newspaper, Githima TV, and Ushindi KTV running stories highlighting this year’s theme, “Donkeys Now and Tomorrow”. Further, the cross-border movement and trade of donkeys was highlighted as a threat to donkey welfare as well as an accelerant to donkey theft leaving communities who rely on the animal for sustenance desperate.

It is estimated that the stories reached nearly 3 million viewers on YouTube alone - (KTN News has 2.64 million Subscribers, Githima TV has 20 thousand Subscribers, Ushindi KTV has five (5) thousand Subscribers); on Facebook, KTN News has 3.4 million followers, and the story also ran on the platform.

The links are as follows:

1. Ushindi KTV: National Donkey’s Day at Rombo Kajiado county - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6CyiCHGIn0
2. Githima TV: MUTHI WA GUKUNGUIRA BUNDA KAJIADO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6o7GN3ulYE
3. KTN News: Animal welfare activist warn against the rise and unregulated slaughtering of donkeys - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhqc_4VBpV4

Donkey Clinic in Migori
Similarly, in May, ANAW in partnership with Migori County and WTG conducted a three-day donkey clinic in Ikerege Town, Nyabesi West and Sori Town, that saw 102 donkeys vaccinated against rabies, dewormed and their wounds attended to. Each donkey was also given a shot of multivitamin to boost their appetite.

During the 3-day vaccination exercise, approximately 500 community members were engaged on the importance of upholding donkey welfare and health. The awareness and sensitization were conducted by both ANAW, the private and county local service providers as the donkeys were being attended to. Links were also established between the community members, the private and county local service providers to foster a working relationship, strengthen the referral system, collaboration, mentoring, and supervision.

During the awareness sessions, 100 educational materials were distributed to community members that highlighted on donkey husbandry, health and harnessing.