Improving Welfare for Working Donkeys in Meru County, Kenya

    By Dr. Martha Mellish

     Equus asinus—the donkey—known locally as punda in Kiswahili and ntigiri in Kimeru, does a lot of work for families in Meru County, Kenya. Despite their importance, working donkeys often labour with harnesses that compress the airway, leading to coughing, breathing difficulty, and reluctance to work.

    The Working Donkey Project in Meru County, supported by the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Center and Farmers Helping Farmers is now in its third year and focuses on improving donkey welfare through practical, community-driven solutions. In 2024, our concerns about airway compression with the current harnessing were confirmed through direct visualization of donkey airways, guiding the development of a prototype cart and harness system designed to reduce pressure on the neck and improve breathing.

    In 2025, the project expanded to include community conversations, seminars, and demonstrations. Five donkey carts have been constructed in partnership with a local welder with the goal of a demonstration of a potentially more welfare friendly cart and harness.

        However, challenges remain. We continue to have difficulty identifying a harness design that is both welfare-friendly and adaptable to local materials and repair skills. In addition, frequent flat tires on the carts have highlighted the need for easy repair kits.

    This year, our team returned to interview the same donkey owners surveyed last January, gathering feedback on welfare perceptions, cart performance, and design improvements. Alongside this work, we provided basic donkey health clinics, including deworming and vaccinations.

By openly addressing challenges and working collaboratively with donkey owners, this project continues to evolve toward sustainable improvements for working donkeys—and the communities that rely on them.