Four Including a Woman Arrested Selling Donkey Meat
The arrests in Embu highlight the enduring complexity of the donkey meat trade in Kenya
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Four individuals, including one woman, stand accused of selling donkey meat in Embu County, reigniting the contentious debate surrounding the trade in Kenya.
This development unfolds after a 2021 High Court ruling overturned a 2020 government ban on donkey slaughter, citing economic constraints on specific businesses.
The 2020 ban was enacted out of concern for declining donkey populations and potential animal welfare violations.
However, a local slaughterhouse and a contingent of herders vehemently contested the decision, arguing it inflicted substantial financial hardship. Justice Richard Mwongo, presiding over the case in May 2021, ultimately ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, citing insufficient government justification for the ban and potential infringement upon the plaintiffs’ economic rights.
This controversial verdict sparked immediate concerns among animal welfare organizations and donkey owners, who feared unregulated trade could lead to unsustainable exploitation and cruelty.
The arrests in Embu highlight the enduring complexity of the donkey meat trade in Kenya. Despite the court’s ruling, anxieties persist regarding the industry’s ethical and ecological implications. Government statistics reveal a concerning decline in the national donkey population, plummeting from 1.8 million a decade ago to approximately 1.2 million today.
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