Nakuru: Nakuru is set to benefit from a Sh 200 million initiative that aims at transforming the devolved unit’s informal dairy sector, which accounts for about 70 percent of the county’s milk supply. The initiative, known as More Milk for Lives and Livelihoods (More Milk 2), is a four-year project rolled out by the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
According to Kenya News Agency, the project is designed to improve milk safety and quality in Kenya’s informal dairy sector. Livestock Fisheries and Veterinary Chief Officer Dr. Michael Cheruiyot said the County Government’s long-term vision was to have a formalized dairy sector in Kenya that provides safe milk and contributes to nutrition security, health, and economic growth.
The initiative is expected to deliver significant changes, including improved milk safety standards, increased regulatory compliance, and greater participation of informal businesses in regulated markets. Dr. Cheruiyot explained that the project seeks to empower small-scale dairy businesses with the tools to meet regulatory standards, enhance market access, and promote safer, high-quality milk production. The initiative also aims to empower consumers by increasing demand for safer, high-quality milk and to strengthen gender equity by fostering collaboration between men and women in the informal sector.
Dr. Cheruiyot noted the critical role of the informal dairy sector in the nation’s economy and nutrition, providing affordable milk to millions of households. However, these dairy vendors face significant challenges, including lack of adequate support, inability to adhere to best milk handling practices and regulatory requirements, and difficulties in maintaining product quality and safety. Speaking during a consultative workshop ahead of the roll-out of the initiative, Dr. Cheruiyot disclosed that the project would benefit small-scale dairy businesses in Nakuru, Nyandarua, and Uasin Gishu counties, targeting to benefit 450 informal and small business vendors in the three counties.
The four-year program aims to address current challenges by improving milk handling practices and ensuring regulatory compliance while empowering vendors to thrive and enhancing consumer trust. Dr. Cheruiyot said the scheme would support their gradual transition into certified enterprises that offer safe and quality dairy products through capacity building, incentives for change, and fostering an enabling environment. He emphasized the importance of providing necessary training, technology, and access to resources to uplift the entire dairy sector, ensuring healthier and safer milk for all Kenyans.
The partnership between KDB, ILRI, and county governments demonstrates the potential of the milk sector to transform economic development, empower women, and build a resilient society. Dr. Cheruiyot highlighted that the More Milk 2 initiative aligns with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which identifies dairy as a priority value chain for development. The project intends to create a business case that demonstrates the feasibility of scaling up to support the government’s objective of increasing milk sales through regulated markets from less than 20 percent to 50 percent.
The informal dairy sector in Kenya is the backbone of milk supply for millions, providing affordable and nutritious dairy products while sustaining livelihoods across the dairy value chain. However, the sector faces significant challenges, including inconsistent quality standards, food safety concerns, and regulatory bottlenecks, which limit its economic potential. The More Milk 2 initiative is designed to mitigate these challenges through targeted interventions in Nakuru, Nyandarua, and Uasin Gishu, three of Kenya’s top milk-producing counties.
Dr. Cheruiyot explained that the initiative is expected to improve the safety of unpackaged milk sold by small businesses in Kenya by empowering dairy vendors with business skills, safe milk handling practices, and regulatory knowledge to help them scale their businesses. The project also aims to promote gender inclusion by enhancing women’s participation and economic opportunities, besides strengthening collaboration between dairy farmers, vendors, regulators, and policymakers. It is designed to improve livelihoods, empower small-scale vendors, and ensure that Kenyan households have access to high-quality milk.
