In some parts of Lamu County, there are no motorised transport and as such, locals rely on donkeys for transportation and moving goods.
With the island also being a tourist destination, venturing into the business has seemingly become an avenue to riches.
On a good day, men in the donkey transport industry can make as high as Ksh 10,000.
Here is their story as told by WoK.
Ali Mohamed, a donkey owner, is among Lamu locals who have invested in the donkey transport business, having ventured into the business in 2011.
He got into the business after graduating from college and failed to secure a job.
As of 2022, Mohamed owned 15 working donkeys that earned him between Ksh 3,000 and Ksh 9,000 per day.
“I was frustrated after failing to secure a job. It reached a point where I gave up and started the donkey transportation business
“At that time, I had only two donkeys that I inherited from my father. I used to earn between Ksh 500 and Ksh 1,500 per day,” he said.
Mohamed ferries among other cargo, construction materials and farm produce to different parts of Pamba Roho where he is based.
“Since I have made a name for myself in the industry, many clients always seek my donkey transportation services. One trip ferrying building blocks or bags of cement from Lamu town to Kashmir, for instance, costs not less than Ksh 600
“With my 15 donkeys, if all are hired at once, it means I earn Ksh 9,000 in a single trip or day. I have no plan to quit this venture,” he added.
Omar Kidege is another donkey owner working from Lamu Island.
He has been in the donkey transport industry for the last 35 years, and the business has enabled him educate his children.
Kidege owns six donkeys which fetches him not less than Ksh 3,600 per day.
“In a good month of working uninterrupted, I can earn up to Ksh 108,000. This has enabled me to educate my children and I have no plan to leave the industry no matter what,” he said.
Kidege also highlighted some of the challenges that donkey operators have to deal with in the line of their work.
“Once you introduce yourself as a donkey operator, people have no interest in you anymore. Some don’t even respect you. But we understand that the society is used to recognising those working in offices
“What they don’t understand is that most of us working in the donkey industry are getting good money,” Kidege explained.
Donkey prices
While a lot of money is fetched from the donkey transport industry, a donkey is expensive and not everyone can afford.
According to Yusuf Hussein, a donkey owner, a working donkey costs between Ksh 30,000 and Ksh 60,000.
“We also have donkeys that are for entertainment, including those used for various competitions, including donkey races and pageants
“You can’t acquire such animals for less than Ksh 80,000. Some are sold for as high as Ksh 120,000,” he said.
