Kenya Dairy Board commissions new headquarters at Upper Kabete

KENYA – The Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) has officially commissioned its new headquarters at Upper Kabete, marking a significant milestone in the country’s ambitious plan to double milk production within the next five years, as outlined in the KDB Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

This move aims to enhance the board’s operational efficiency and service delivery within the dairy sector.

Key stakeholders from the dairy industry, government officials, and representatives from various dairy cooperatives and associations attended the commissioning ceremony. Notable attendees included the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Livestock Development, Hon. Jonathan Mueke.

During the event, KDB Managing Director Margaret Kibogy highlighted the plan to boost milk production from 5.2 billion to 11 billion liters by 2027, setting an annual growth target of 20% in milk production.

A key strategy involves shifting from volume-based to quality-based payment systems, expected to enhance the production of high-value dairy products such as cheese, butter, and ghee for export markets.

“The strategic plan focuses on enhancing value addition, improving production efficiency, and increasing market access,” Kibogy stated.

KDB aims to increase annual milk exports by 200 million liters, reaching a total of one billion liters by 2027 while maintaining high milk quality through strict compliance with quality and safety standards.

The plan is anchored on four pillars: boosting production, enhancing value addition, improving market access, and ensuring compliance.

Expanding market access is particularly crucial, with KDB looking to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area to penetrate broader African markets beyond East Africa.

The commissioning of the new headquarters in Kabete is a vital part of the broader strategy to support the anticipated growth in milk production and value addition.

Kibogy emphasized the potential economic benefits, projecting that doubling milk production could increase the dairy sector’s value from KES 41 billion (US$319.96m) to over KES 80 billion (US$624.32m).

Jonathan Mueke added that the plan includes strategies to increase revenues from dairy product exports from the estimated 5 billion shillings (US$39.02m) recorded in 2023.

“We want to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area to penetrate countries such as Zimbabwe as well as West African nations that are net importers of dairy products,” Mueke said.

The strategic plan, at its core, aims to ensure that increased production translates into better returns for farmers, ultimately putting more money in their pockets. This commitment to our farmers is unwavering and we will continue to support them in every step of this journey.

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