Nairobi: Dairy farmers in Murang’a are set to earn more from their milk after Murang’a County Creameries Union (MCCU) raised its farm-gate price to Sh49 per litre, the fourth increase in three months amid a tightening national milk supply. The new price, which applies to milk delivered in September, represents a Sh7 increase from the Sh42 per litre paid by the Union in June. The latest adjustment follows increases to Sh44 in July and Sh47 in August.
According to Kenya News Agency, the management of the union indicated that the latest increase had been enabled by measures to improve efficiency, reduce operational costs and minimize milk losses along the collection and cooling chain. ‘MCCU will pay Sh49 per litre for all milk delivered in the month of September 2026,’ the Union said in a notice to farmers.
The improved returns come at a time when dairy farmers across the country are facing changing production conditions, while reduced milk deliveries have tightened supplies in the formal market. The Kenya Dairy Board has linked declining formal milk deliveries partly to dry weather conditions, which have affected pasture availability and increased the cost of feeding livestock.
For Murang’a farmers, the successive price increases could provide an important boost at a time when the cost of dairy production remains a major concern, particularly expenditure on animal feeds, veterinary services and labour. The MCCU, which is under management of the county government, has also been implementing reforms aimed at making the cooperative more efficient and improving returns to farmers.
The measures include automation of operations, strengthening milk collection and cooling systems, reducing wastage and improving milk marketing. The Union is further reviewing its by-laws as part of efforts to strengthen its operations and enhance service delivery to affiliated primary cooperatives and their members.
MCCU management has encouraged farmers to continue marketing their milk through primary cooperatives affiliated with the Union, saying collective marketing gives producers greater bargaining power and enables them to benefit from an organized market. The development comes as the dairy sector grapples with the challenge of maintaining adequate milk supplies while ensuring farmers receive competitive prices for their produce.
The higher farm-gate price is also expected to offer an incentive for farmers to maintain and increase production as the country seeks to bridge gaps in milk supply. MCCU’s latest adjustment therefore provides some relief to Murang’a dairy farmers, while underscoring the need for continued investment in feed production, efficient milk collection, cooling infrastructure and stable markets to sustain the sector.
