Nairobi: Prolonged drought has caused a 3.7 percent decline in formal milk deliveries to processors, prompting the Government and dairy industry stakeholders, to roll-out measures to restore supplies and cushion farmers and consumers from disruptions.
According to Kenya News Agency, Principal Secretary for Livestock Development, Jonathan Mueke, announced that milk deliveries fell from 84.4 million litres in June to 81.3 million litres in July 2026, with preliminary indications pointing to a further decline in August. Speaking during a media briefing in Nairobi, Mueke attributed the decline primarily to prolonged dry conditions that have reduced pasture and increased pressure on animal feeds. He explained that fodder pressure due to lack of rain has affected not only Kenya but also neighbouring countries, leading to reduced availability of feed, which in turn has lowered milk production.
To address the situation, the Government will collaborate with the Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers and other feed millers to identify areas with surplus feed stocks and facilitate their distribution to dairy farmers. Mueke emphasized that supporting farmers is central to restoring the supply chain, as inadequate feeding directly impacts milk yields. The Government has also approved the duty-free importation of 500,000 tonnes of yellow maize for use as a raw material in animal-feed manufacturing to ease pressure on feed manufacturers and help contain production costs.
The Kenya Dairy Board will intensify monitoring of milk production and the movement of milk from farms to processors to ensure fair prices for farmers and adequate quantities reach the formal market. Some farmers have been diverting milk to informal buyers, where they receive better prices, depriving processors of raw milk. Mueke expressed concerns over governance within some dairy cooperatives, which are purchasing milk at higher prices from farmers but not passing adequate returns to them. The State Department for Cooperatives and the Commissioner for Cooperatives have been engaged on this issue, with a circular expected to remind cooperatives to limit their margins for value addition.
The Government is also considering establishing a milk stabilization fund to process excess milk into powder during periods of high production and store it for use during shortages. This mechanism would help stabilize milk prices and availability while allowing farmers to benefit from higher production periods.
Meanwhile, Kenneth Gitonga, Interim Chairman of the Kenya Dairy Processors Association, urged consumers not to panic-buy milk, describing the supply disruption as temporary. He assured consumers that processors are working to ensure every available litre reaches them while keeping prices stable. Gitonga also cautioned against purchasing unprocessed milk from informal traders, warning of adulteration risks.
Mueke dismissed suggestions that foot-and-mouth disease contributes to the decline, stating that Kenya currently has no active outbreak. He attributed the decline to drought and inadequate fodder. The Government expects rains to improve pasture availability and milk production, with the Meteorological Department forecasting significant rains within the next three weeks. However, Mueke emphasized that the Government would continue tracking production and supply figures and issue regular updates.
While ruling out immediate milk imports, Mueke indicated that the Government may consider importing milk powder if the shortage persists to protect consumers from excessive price increases. The measures being implemented should prevent significant increases, although supply-and-demand pressures may result in price adjustments.
The Government will continue monitoring the sector and communicating updates as it works to restore normal milk supplies in the short, medium, and long term.
