Food companies pledge to support animal welfare and protection rights

An unidentified motorist transports chicken on a motorcycle in this file picture. Animal welfare and protection rights dictate that farm animals have a good life, freedom from pain, fear, boredom, frustration and inhumane treatment. FILE PHOTO | NMG

What you need to know:

  • This is in accordance with the animal welfare and protection rights.
  • Consumers are increasingly considering the welfare of animals when deciding where to eat, which is a big development in the campaign on animal welfare protection.
  • Authorities are similarly drafting a bill to address animal welfare and protection.
  • Animal welfare is important especially for the sake of food security and nutrition.

More than 50 global food companies, including international brands with branches in Kenya, have committed to make significant improvements on the lives of chickens, the World Animal Protection (WAP) says.

This is in accordance with the animal welfare and protection rights, to ensure that livestock, regardless of their anticipated purpose, have their freedoms.

That is from hunger and thirst; injury; pain and disease; fear and distress; and freedom to express normal behaviour, among others.

Speaking at the launch of the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report this week, Dr Victor Yamo, the Humane and Sustainable Agriculture Campaigns Manager at WAP, said that consumers are increasingly considering the welfare of animals when deciding where to eat, which is a big development in the campaign on animal welfare protection.

“We expect higher standards of living for farm animals, ensuring they have a good life, freedom from pain, fear, boredom and frustration, from establishments keeping them,” said Dr Yamo.

Dr Michael Cheruiyot, the deputy director of Kenya Veterinary Services, said authorities are similarly drafting a bill to address animal welfare and protection.

“When passed, this bill will focus on cruelty on animals, ensuring that their rights are observed, spell out roles of county governments on animal welfare, detail the obligations of animal owners and their transportation, and ensure strict penalties are accordingly meted on those culpable of flouting these rights,” said Dr Cheruiyot, adding that the process should be complete before the end of this year.

Animal welfare is important especially for the sake of food security and nutrition.