• Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals and Brooke EA have rescued hundreds of donkeys from abuse, neglect and illegal slaughter.
• The Queen got to see first-hand the partnership between Brooke and the KSPCA that has resulted in the rescue of donkeys that have been abused or misused.
Queen Camilla has visited Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA) to hear more about their work with Brooke East Africa.
KSPCA is an animal welfare charity in Kenya that protects animals from neglect and abuse.
Brooke East Africa (BEA) on the other hand is a registered Kenyan NGO and an affiliate of Brooke UK (BUK), an internationally recognised animal welfare charity dedicated to improving the lives of horses, donkeys, and mules.
Together, KSPCA and Brooke EA have rescued hundreds of donkeys from abuse, neglect and illegal slaughter.
The Queen got to see first-hand the partnership between Brooke and the KSPCA that has resulted in the rescue of donkeys that have been abused or misused.
During the visit, Her Majesty had the opportunity to meet 32 donkeys recently rescued from misuse and abuse in Mwea, along with horses and other animals that had been rescued from overwork and harsh conditions.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla are in Kenya for historic State visit.
KSPCA Executive Director Emma Naylor-Ngugi said the visit brougt to attention the work and challenges organisations working on animal welfare face.
"Both Brooke East Africa and KSPCA work hard to raise animal welfare standards and address root causes of animal and human suffering," she said.
Nayor-Ngugi termed the scale of the problem as enormous.
She noted that they are entirely funded by donors and rely on patrons, volunteers and supporters to do their job.
In addition, Her Majesty spoke to women whose lives have changed thanks to the interventions of Brooke and its partners.
The interventions include upporting them in learning how to properly harness a donkey to gaining access to welfare-friendly carts, all of which enhanced their livelihoods and resilience.
She witnessed how women in Kenyan communities grow their own sisal and produce welfare-friendly tethers, harnesses, and baskets, which are later sold to generate income used to improve the well-being of their families.
The community members gifted Her Majesty with an orange Maasai shuka, a symbol of hospitality.
Brooke East Africa regional director Raphael Kinoti said donkeys serve as lifelines for women in vulnarable communities.
"They help them carry out essential tasks and earn a livelihood," he explained.
Her Majesty was also treated to singing by school children who are members of Brooke's Donkey Care Clubs (DCC), which promotes the welfare of donkeys.
As a demonstration of their activities, students from Tulimani and Kaveta Primary Schools in Kitui performed their award-winning choral verse titled "My Donkey, My Love." The students also presented Her Majesty with a painting and a crocheted African flower.
The Queen further enjoyed a vibrant market scene similar of the weekend farmer’s market organised by the KSPCA to raise money for its work.
Here she chatted with local vendors and even bought some traditional Kenyan crafts.