Following a drop in production and reduced liquidity in at least one market, the government has sought the assistance of dairy processors to counter the tightening of milk supplies throughout the country.
The Principal Secretary for Livestock Development Jonathan Mueke, said the government had begun dialogue with the Association of Dairy Processors in Kenya to find workable solutions to augment the declining milk supply without passing the higher costs to consumers at the expense of affordability.
This follows the results of a Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) market surveillance carried out on 31 st August 2026, which showed intense supply pressure in 13 out of 21 markets surveyed.
The results of the survey, together with the structural and environmental influencing factors, indicated low stocks, lower availability in some brands and pack sizes, stock rationing, and restocking delays in the affected areas.
Pasteurised milk was shown to be the most under-supplied category. According to Mueke, the cause of the decline is partly related to the long drought experienced, as a result availability of fodder/animal feeds. There was a 3.7 per cent reduction in the milk production from June to July, which added more pressure to the farmers/processors and consumers.
The short-term responses by the government is the improved access to animal feed, duty-free entry for yellow maize for livestock feed, and strengthened milk market monitoring.
Price controls are designed to protect both consumers and producers from excessive increases in prices and to ensure that farmers are paid a reasonable price for their produce.
KDB suggested the augmentation of market surveillance, and increased import of UHT milk from the East African Community region where needed on a short-term basis to fill the supply gap.
Mueke further revealed that the government is also working on long term solutions such as a milk stabilisation fund to deal with over and under-supply periods, reduce price fluctuation for dairy farmers and improve the long-term sustainability of the sector.
