A thriving illegal trade in donkey hides is fueling a rise in donkey theft across Kenya, prompting fresh calls for stronger laws, tighter enforcement and coordinated action to dismantle criminal networks driving the illicit business.
A new report warns that if urgent measures are not taken, the country's donkey population could continue shrinking, putting the livelihoods of thousands of rural households at risk.
The findings are contained in a report launched on Thursday by the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC), which examined the scale of donkey theft and the illegal trade in donkey skins and related products.
The study describes the trade as an emerging security and socioeconomic challenge that has evolved into an organised criminal enterprise stretching beyond Kenya's borders.
According to the report, high international demand for donkey hides has created a profitable market that is attracting criminal syndicates. Researchers found that the groups operate through illegal slaughterhouses and cross-border smuggling routes designed to avoid veterinary inspections and bypass regulations governing the leather industry.
The report shows that the illegal trade has contributed to a sharp decline in Kenya's donkey population. It notes that the number of donkeys fell from 1.8 million in 2009 to 1.1 million in 2019, reducing a critical source of transport, farm labour and income for many rural families.
The study, titled Theft and Illegal Trade in Donkey Skins and Related Products in Kenya, sought to understand current patterns of donkey theft, identify the criminal networks behind the trade, assess its social and economic effects and evaluate the effectiveness of existing interventions.
According to the NCRC, the research is the first comprehensive national study examining the scale, drivers and impact of donkey theft and the illegal trade in donkey skins.
"The findings expose the complex nature of the illegal trade, including the involvement of organised criminal actors, sophisticated supply chain networks and the growing threat posed by transnational organised crime," the report states.
To address the problem, researchers are calling on the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the Directorate of Veterinary Services and county governments to enact a comprehensive Donkey Protection Law.
The proposed law would regulate the entire donkey value chain, strengthen animal welfare standards and introduce specific offences and tougher penalties for donkey theft and illegal slaughter.
The report also recommends that donkeys be declared a threatened livestock species and urges authorities to fully implement the African Union moratorium on donkey slaughter for skins by shutting down illegal slaughter operations and strengthening regulatory oversight.
Researchers further propose introducing a national donkey identification and traceability system supported by stricter livestock movement controls, verified certificates of origin, rescue centres and holding grounds for recovered animals.
To reduce dependence on donkey slaughter, the study encourages investment in sustainable donkey-based enterprises such as milk production and other value chains that do not involve killing the animals.
The report also calls for closer cooperation among East African Community member states to tackle cross-border trafficking and disrupt links between donkey theft, wildlife crime and the bushmeat trade.
Among other recommendations is the digitisation of livestock movement permits, mandatory clearance for inter-county transport of donkeys and increased inspections at slaughterhouses, meat processing facilities and hide collection centres to improve traceability.
The study further urges the Ministry of Interior, the National Police Service (NPS) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to formally recognise donkey theft and illegal bush slaughter as emerging forms of organised crime.
It also recommends adopting a Rapid Response Initiative bringing together police officers, veterinary officials and public health officers to improve investigations and emergency response whenever theft cases are reported.
Researchers want donkey theft recorded alongside cattle rustling in official crime statistics to improve monitoring and guide the allocation of resources to affected areas.
"The study advocates intelligence-led investigations targeting entire criminal syndicates—including financiers, brokers and transporters—rather than focusing solely on low-level offenders," the report says.
The report also recommends expanding public awareness campaigns through village barazas, community policing forums and security meetings while strengthening anti-corruption measures at roadblocks and transit checkpoints through digital surveillance and tighter internal oversight.
In addition, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Judiciary are urged to strengthen the capacity of prosecutors and magistrates handling livestock-related offences and apply tougher penalties against offenders.
Researchers also recommend imposing maximum statutory sentences, recovering assets and proceeds of crime and removing the financial incentives that continue to fuel the illegal trade.
The study further encourages the Judiciary to use Court User Committees to educate communities on donkey protection and encourage the reporting of theft cases.