Killing a stray dog is not only unethical but also a criminal offense under Kenyan law, carrying stiff penalties including fines and jail time.
For instance, a man was arraigned in the Sotik Law Courts in Bomet County on charges of slaughtering a stray dog.
His case drew public outrage after photos showing what was believed to be dog meat circulated on social media. Kigen was later released on a Ksh 150,000 bond and is set to appear for a pretrial hearing on May 22, 2025.
While his case has drawn public outrage and online debate, experts say it shows a much larger issue, one that Kenya continues to grapple with, the protection and humane treatment of animals, particularly stray dogs.
“Anybody who ventures to kill an animal, you are committing a crime and it’s punishable,” said lawyer Javas Bigambo in an interview with Timothy, The Kenya Times Journalist.
“Was the act intent? If found guilty, you will be prosecuted.” he added.
According to Bigambo, Kenyan law clearly criminalizes acts of cruelty toward animals, even those without an owner.
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“Almost 90% of Kenyans are not aware of the act that animals are protected by the law,” he added. “The constitution protects animals.”
Penalties for harming or killing dogs vary, depending on the number of animals involved and the nature of the offense.
“You can be fined depending on the number of dogs killed or harmed,” Bigambo explained. “You can also be jailed up to six months.”
Animal Rights Expert on Stray Dog
But legal enforcement is only part of the solution. Dr. Emilly Mudoga, an animal rights expert and vocal advocate for animal welfare in Kenya, says the root of the problem lies in public awareness and responsibility.
“We have stray dogs in Kenya because of lack of proper domestication,” Dr. Mudoga said. “The problem is responsibility that leads these dogs to end up in the streets.”
She emphasized that dogs, like all animals, are entitled to basic rights.
“Dogs have the right to food, water, to be free of pain, to have health care, and to live a stress-free life,” she said. “You should not kill a dog.”
Dr. Mudoga also issued a warning against consuming dog meat, which remains illegal and poses serious health risks.
“In Kenya, dog meat is not classified as food, so you are not supposed to eat dog meat,” she explained. “Dogs have diseases in their systems which can be passed through the meat.”
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Her call to action is not just legal but moral and deeply human. “Dogs are like human beings,” she added. “They meet in the evening and have a chitchat like any other human being. Let’s protect them.”
Civic Education on Animal Welfare
Both Bigambo and Mudoga agree that Kenya needs widespread civic education on animal welfare, particularly regarding stray animals.
“The public needs training on animal welfare,” Dr. Mudoga said. Bigambo echoed the sentiment, urging the government to engage veterinarians not only for vaccination campaigns but also for awareness drives. “Veterinarians should be involved in matters to do with civic education—not just vaccination,” he said.
While there are legal exemptions for euthanizing dogs that pose immediate danger, the responsibility lies with the owner to ensure proper care and control.
“A dog causing danger to the neighbor or causing harm, the owner will be accounted for,” Bigambo noted. “So, the owner should ensure that the animal does not affect the neighbor, and it’s vaccinated.”
It’s clear that stray or not, animals have rights under Kenyan law and those rights must be respected.
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