Queen Camilla visits Brooke Animal welfare lobby

Queen Camilla of England on Wednesday toured the Brooke East Africa at the Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA) during her four-day visit to Kenya 

BEA is an international animal welfare charity dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules.

Queen Camilla, who is the patron of Brooke.

Brooke is based in 22 counties within Kenya, Somaliland, South Sudan, Tanzania and part of Northern Uganda. 

Her visit aimed to gain deeper insights into the efforts of BEA and KSPCA in safeguarding the welfare of animals in Kenya, particularly donkeys.

Her Majesty learnt about Brooke’s and KSPCA’s collaboration in rescuing donkeys from abuse and neglect and how fostering and rehoming abused donkeys not only improves their well-being but also enhances the lives and livelihoods of some of Kenya's most vulnerable communities.

During the visit, the Queen had the opportunity to meet some of the 32 donkeys recently rescued from misuse and abuse in Mwea.

She also met five horses that had been rescued from overwork and harsh conditions, underscoring the pivotal role of working animals in Kenya.

Additionally, Her Majesty spoke to women whose lives have changed thanks to the interventions of Brooke and its partners, including supporting them in learning how to properly harness a donkey to gain access to welfare-friendly carts, all of which significantly enhanced their livelihoods and resilience.

Queen Camilla witnessed how women in Kenyan communities grow their 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 also gifted Her Majesty with an orange Maasai shuka, a symbol of hospitality.

Brooke East Africa Regional Director Raphael Kinoti said the visit by the Queen shed light on to place of people at the heart of animal welfare. 

“Donkeys serve as lifelines for women in vulnerable communities, helping them carry out essential tasks and earn a livelihood. The visit by Her Majesty shed light on the critical need to prioritise and place people, especially women, at the heart of animal welfare efforts, recognising the vital connection between the well-being of working equines and the empowerment of the women who rely on them,” Kinoti said. 

The Queen was also treated to singing by school children who are members of Brooke's Donkey Care Clubs (DCC), which promote 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.

Lastly, Queen Camilla enjoyed a vibrant market scene reminiscent of the weekend farmer’s market organised by the KSPCA.

This is where she interacted with local vendors and even bought some traditional Kenyan crafts.

KSPCA CEO Emma Naylor-Ngugi said the Queen's visit helped to shine a light on the brilliant work of animal welfare charities here in Kenya and the challenges they face.

She said both Brooke East Africa and the KSPCA work hard to raise animal welfare standards and address the root causes of animal and human suffering. 

"Thanks to the generosity of our patrons, volunteers and donors, we can make an immediate and lasting difference through community-based animal welfare programs, by enforcing laws, and advocating for positive change,” Ngugi said.