Lobby Group Opposes Plan to Kill 50,000 Stray Dogs Roaming in Nairobi

An animal lobby group has protested Governor Sonko administration's plan to kill over 50,000 stray dogs roaming in Nairobi.

This comes after the Nairobi county government announced it had set aside Sh100 million to eliminate the animals.

World Animal Protection has opposed the plans and wants City Hall to instead channel the funds towards vaccinating the dogs.

The lobby says culling is an ineffective method of managing stray dogs.

“We urge the county government to immediately abandon plans to kill stray and roaming dogs. The authorities can find better means to manage the increasing dog population in Nairobi and its environs,” says the organization's director Tennyson Williams.

“Culling dogs is a cruel, needless and ineffective attempt to control rabies and manage stray dog populations. The county should seek expert advice on alternative options."

The lobby group further argues that the kitty can be used to vaccinate and sterilize all dogs in the city for a period of seven years.

“Vaccination will need to be done alongside a sterilization programme too, but it could be a fantastic mass dog vaccination scheme with this kind of budget."

Two weeks ago, Nairobi county Veterinary Services director Muriithi Muhari said the money would be spent to kill and dump the stray dogs in the next one year. City Hall says the animals pose potential health risks to city residents.

“There is no evidence culling alone has ever led to a reduced population. Dogs’ population will continue rising unless the government puts in place systems and structures to support sterilization,” the lobby group adds.