WRITTEN BY MONICAH MAKALI
A family in Machakos town has been left in shock after their donkey turned against them, biting a mother and her son.
Selina Ndinda, who was bitten, says the donkey began attacking her on Friday, injuring both her hands before turning on her 38-year-old son, biting him and breaking his leg. He is currently admitted at Machakos Level 5 Hospital.
She says she had gone to separate her donkey from fighting with a neighbor’s donkey when, in the commotion, she slipped and fell. That’s when the donkey pinned her down and bit her.
Due to the incident, Selina now fears keeping the donkey and is seeking advice from livestock experts.
She has since locked the donkey up and is contemplating starving it to death or selling it.
She says that in her entire life, she has never seen a donkey bite a human being. She speculates that perhaps, being a male donkey, it was in heat and looking for a mate.
Ndinda also says accessing rabies medication at Machakos Level 5 Hospital has been difficult. She needs five thousand shillings to buy enough of the medicine for her son’s treatment. She herself has not received the anti-rabies shot due to poverty.
Residents who witnessed the incident say it is not uncommon for a donkey to bite someone, especially when it’s in heat.
David Musembi, another resident, added that if a donkey is not put to work, it becomes a wild and stubborn animal.
Confirming the incident, Kathekakai area Chief Daniel Maweu said it is not normal for a domestic animal to bite humans.
He added that agriculture officers from Machakos County visited the area and urged residents to seek urgent medical attention whenever bitten by a domestic animal.
