The illegal donkey trade in Kenya is rapidly evolving into a sophisticated 'zero-waste' operation, where nearly every part of the animal is harvested and sold to meet growing local and international demand.
Research conducted in counties such as Kitui, Embu, Machakos, and Kajiado reveals that criminal networks have expanded beyond trading donkey hides to include meat, bones, intestines, and organs.
Markets and Products
- Meat: Stolen donkey meat is increasingly sold through informal channels, often uninspected or disguised as other products in urban food outlets.
- Skins: Continue to supply export markets, particularly for gelatin and industrial uses.
- Intestines: Processed into sausages and other food products.
- Bones: Collected for industrial applications.
- Organs: Traded in niche cultural markets.
County-Level Trends
- Kitui: Rising demand for uninspected meat alongside skin exports.
- Embu: Dual market supplying urban meat outlets and skin exporters.
- Machakos: Extensive use of almost every donkey part.
- Kajiado: Integration of donkey products into food processing, including sausages.
This diversification has made donkey theft more lucrative, strengthening incentives for organised crime groups. The illicit trade exploits weak regulatory oversight in both food safety and livestock markets, allowing criminal syndicates to maximise profits by utilising every usable part of the animal.
