More Kenyans ‘unhappy’ with Wajackoyah idea on snakes, hyenas trade
Roots Party presidential aspirant George Wajackoyah is courting trouble across the country, with a host of Kenyans expressing displeasure at his utterances.
The professor of law has antagonised church leaders, fellow politicians and, most recently, animal rights groups.
The Union of Veterinary Practitioners, Kenya, has condemned Wajackoyah’s recent claim Kenya can trade in wildlife products.
During his manifesto launch last Thursday, he said, among other things, Kenya can earn foreign exchange from sale of hyena testicles to China, where they can be used for medicinal purposes.
He quipped: “1,000 hyenas have 2,000 testicles. Chinese use hyena testicles as medicine. A testicle costs about Sh6 million; it is much more (money) than from ganja. We shall export these testicles.”
Besides promising to legalise large-scale farming and trade in bhang, Wajakoyah has also said the country can make money from sale of snakes and venom. This did not go down well with the veterinary association, as it could cause harm to animals.
“Kenya is a treaty member of the Washington Convention, also known as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which protects these species and regulates trade in specimens of wildlife based on a system of permits and certificates issued under certain conditions,” reads a statement signed by UVPK secretary general Miheso Mulembani.
“The proposal to trade in snakes and hyena testicles is a recipe for another pandemic, owing to spillover of viruses, bacteria and parasites from the wild to human beings. Covid-19 originated in Wuhan Market, China, due to trade in wildlife products,” Dr Mulembani stated.
He added that zoonotic diseases such as rabies, brucellosis, leptospirosis, yersiniosis, giardiasis and pathogenic E-coli could become a big threat.
“We urge Prof Wajakoyah to consult closely with veterinary professionals before making proposals that are impractical, unimplementable and which may jeopardize the existence of our wild animals,” he said.
Church leaders have also condemned Wajackoyah’s proposal to legalize bhang, terming this as a precursor to destruction of Kenya’s moral fabric. Recently, Murang’a Catholic diocese Bishop James Wainaina said Wajackoyah is unfit to hold high offices such as the presidency.
