Wajir donkey-owners say Chinese traders are stealing their beast of burden for ”strange business”

WAJIR—Donkeys in Wajir town are missing in droves—thanks to a new market in Naivasha operated by Kenyans for the Chinese.

The number of stray donkeys have sharply decreased save for few with deformities. The news of the vanishing strays was a music to the ear until three months ago when donkey cart operators reported to the local authorities of their missing beast of burden.

Osman Abera is a popular donkey-cart operator in Wajir town. (Kulan Post)

Oman Abera is a popular donkey cart operator in Wajir. He inherited the business from his father more than 25 year ago.

“I finding it hard to cope,” he told Kulan Post in an interview.

“I have never known any other business since I came of age and my children are sleeping hungry for the first time,’’ he narrates, visibly shocked by the ‘’strange’’ turn of events.

He is flanked by two women who used the donkey cart to collect firewood. They are now

“The woods are my source of livelihood,” Mama Ithila Mohamed states with a bitter tone.

“I am bitter because someone has decided to end our source of earning to the delight of the Chinese traders,” she added.

At the local livestock market, herders could be seen moving their animals for sale. However, according to one middle-man at the market the number of donkeys coming for sale have significantly dwindles as their cost skyrocketed.

“Since the news of the donkey slaughter-house in Naivasha was received in Wajir, donkey owners have begun selling their donkeys to the Chinese for a considerable amount,” Saman Mahat, a middle-man of over a decade observed.

At a market range, the donkeys used to cost slightly over sh 10,000, but not anymore.

“I tried to buy another donkey, but the cost is shockingly gone up for sh 10,000 to sh 16,000,” Mama Ithila said.

Just last month, the police in Abakore intercepted over 17 donkeys loaded on a lorry destined for Naivasha. The officers were tipped by locals in Habaswein who reported of missing donkeys.

Who’s to blame for the donkey business?

“I blame the government for allowing the Chinese for doing ‘strange’ business.