CONTACTS: +254 726879488 (Mobile)
+254770 455 116 (Office)
By Victor MUJIDU
During her 3-day state visit to Kenya, Her Majesty (Queen Camilla) visited the Brooke East Africa (BEA) at the Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA) with the aim of understanding more about the role of BEA and KSPCA in safeguarding the lives of animals, particularly donkeys.
As BEA patron, Her Majesty is particularly concerned with the lives of horses, donkeys, and mules. Her visit helped her gain more insights into Brooke’s and KSPCA’s collaboration, which primarily deals with rescuing donkeys from abuse and neglect and further enhancing the lives and livelihoods of some of Kenya’s most vulnerable communities.
Brooke EA-KSPCA‘s immense collaboration has successfully helped rescue hundreds of donkeys from abuse, neglect, and illegal slaughter. The collaboration has also helped boost the lives of communities grappling with poverty in different parts of the country.
Her visit further helped her to meet 32 donkeys that were rescued from misuse and abuse in Mwea, along with 5 horses that were rescued from being overworked and exposed to harsh environments.
Emma Naylor-Ngugi, CEO of KSPCA, commented that Queen Camilla’s visit is an eye-opener in helping Kenyans realize the immense role played by welfare charities and the challenges encountered in the animal rescue mission.
“By visiting us today, the Queen has helped to shine a light on the brilliant work of animal welfare charities here in Kenya and the challenges we face”, Ms. Ngugi said.
She added that “both Brooke East Africa and KSPCA work hard to raise animal welfare standards and address the root causes of animal and human suffering.
Her Majesty also had the opportunity to meet and speak to women whose lives have been positively transformed through Brooke’s interventions.
Brooke has supported women to learn how to properly harness a donkey to gain access to welfare-friendly carts, a move that has significantly helped them to improve their lives and resilience.
“Donkeys serve as lifelines for women in vulnerable communities, helping them carry out essential tasks and boosting their livelihoods”, said Dr. Raphael Kinoti, the Regional Director, Brooke East Africa.
He noted that “the visit by Her Majesty shed light on the critical need to prioritize and place people, especially women, at the heart of animal welfare efforts, recognizing the vital connection between the well-being of working equines and the empowerment of the women who rely on them”
In addition, Her Majesty also witnessed the Kenyan communities grow their own sisal and produce welfare-friendly tethers and baskets that are eventually sold to generate income for improving the lives of their families.
Her Majesty was also treated to signing by schoolchildren who are members of Brooke’s Donkey Care Clubs (DCC), which deals with promoting the donkeys’ welfare.