ROLE AND MANAGEMENT OF DONKEYS IN SAMBURU AND TURKANA PASTORALIST SOCIETIES IN NORTHERN KENYA

A survey was carried out in northern to obtain data on the role and ma nagement of donkeys in Samburu and Turkana pastoralist societies and t o identify potential areas, if any, for interventions. Sixty-seven wom en owning or closely associated with 583 donkeys were surveyed during July/August 1994. The median donkey herd sizes in Samburu and Turkana societies were 4 and 10 respectively. Pack transport of water and dome stic materials were the major reasons for keeping donkeys. Donkey milk , meat and blood were consumed widely by the Turkana but not by the Sa mburu. The major problems in donkey management were donkeys getting lo st, being stolen, predation and being affected by diseases, in particu lar a disease condition involving unthriftinesss, emaciation and slow growth. Traditional methods of treating donkey diseases were generally used. It was concluded that donkeys were an important component in th e pastoralist societies surveyed although donkey numbers and transport capacity were not limiting factors in pastoralists' activities. Poten tial areas for intervention were identified as disease investigation a nd stimulation of community based initiatives to tackle general manage ment problems.