Animal cruelty has always been frowned upon in the country and several individuals found guilty were sent behind bars or paid a fine.
One of the animals that face a lot of cruelty is the donkey which is at times beaten up while delivering and transporting goods. Despite some suspects facing the penalties animal cruelty continues.
Some of these offences and penalties are outlined in the law but some people still defy them. Kenyans.co.ke explores the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act.
According to the act, anyone who is found guilty of infuriating or terrifying an animal commits an offence and is liable to a Ksh3,000 fine of imprisonment for 6 months.
Additionally, anyone who kicks, ill-treats, over-rides, overloads, tortures, underfeeds, starves, using a diseased animal, and administers poison commits an offence and faces the above penalties.
Any person who hawks any animal in such a manner as to cause unnecessary suffering to the animal shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh500.
It is also an offence to promote animal fighting, collect money or manage any animal fights. Anyone who is found guilty of this offence is liable to a Ksh3,000 fine or imprisonment for 6 months.
The act also states that anyone who on purpose hunts and liberates any animal in a mutilated condition or exposes it to immediate danger commits an offence. This offence attracts a Ksh2,000 fine, imprisonment for 3 months or both.
"A person who, whether for the purposes of the exhibition or not, trains any animal by the cruel infliction of pain or terror, or by the excessive use of a whip, goad or other instrument, or by the application of heat, electrical shock, or other similar appliance or agency, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh2,000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 months, or to both such fine and imprisonment," reads part of the act.
Per the act, it is also an offence to use traps and devices to trap animals resulting in unnecessary suffering. Anyone found guilty of this offence faces a Ksh500 fine.
Per the act, anyone who involves an animal in a dangerous contest or treats the animal whether trained or untrained with cruelty commits an offence attracting a Ksh2,000 fine or 3 months in jail.
Sharing of films which portray animal cruelty is also prohibited and anyone found guilty faces a Ksh2,000 fine or 3 months imprisonment.
