Kenya Veterinary Association calls for ban on donkey skin trade
The Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) is calling for immediate prohibit of all forms of commercial slaughter and export of donkey skins. Association says their call is aligned with the African Union 15-year moratorium issued in 2024 and constitutional provisions that protect animal welfare, public health and cultural heritage. Speaking to the press in Nairobi on Friday, Samson Muchelule, CEO, the Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) said between 2016 and 2019, Kenya lost more than 40 per cent of its donkey population, driven by the demand for ejiao (donkey hide gelatin) in China. Despite a national ban, Muchelule revealed that trade continues illegally, fueled by theft and cross-border smuggling. “We appreciate the government of Kenya’s initiative by the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to stop the donkey skin trade and illegal meat,” he ...