Kenya's donkey population is plummeting at an alarming rate, with recent statistics indicating a decline of over 50% in the last decade.
The surge in demand for donkey hides, particularly for export to China, has fuelled illegal slaughter and smuggling, threatening the livelihoods of communities that rely on these animals for transport and trade.
According to a report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the number of donkeys in Kenya dropped from 1.8 million in 2009 to approximately one million in 2019.
More recent data shows that as of 2024, the donkey population has further declined to less than 500,000, marking a significant loss.
