KDB launches project to uplift informal milk sector in Nakuru County

KENYA – The Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) has launched a Sh200 million project to transform Nakuru County’s informal milk sector, focusing on enhancing safety and quality for small-scale dairy businesses. 

The four-year initiative, undertaken in partnership with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), targets challenges in the dairy industry, which supplies 70%  of the county’s milk.

Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the project aims to turn informal milk vendors into certified enterprises.

According to Livestock Fisheries and Veterinary Chief Officer Dr. Michael Cheruiyot, the initiative will support 450 vendors across Nakuru, Nyandarua, and Uasin Gishu counties with training, technology, and resources. 

This effort is designed to improve milk handling practices and ensure adherence to safety standards, fostering greater trust in dairy products from these areas.

Dr. Cheruiyot, speaking at a recent workshop, said, “This project is about giving vendors the tools they need to deliver safe, high-quality milk while growing their businesses.” 

The KDB-led initiative seeks to boost regulated milk sales from less than 20% to 50%, reducing health risks tied to unprocessed milk and establishing a sustainable dairy framework that supports economic and nutritional gains.

The project’s focus is on actionable solutions, with ILRI providing research expertise to enhance milk safety and vendor productivity. 

The initiative also prioritizes gender inclusion, promoting women’s involvement in the dairy value chain. 

Dr. Cheruiyot noted, “We’re building a system where everyone benefits, vendors, farmers, and consumers, through better collaboration and support.”

The Sh200 million project addresses Nakuru’s critical role as a dairy hub, where informal vendors are essential to meeting local demand. 

Aligned with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, it strengthens the dairy sector by equipping vendors to meet regulatory standards. 

As the KDB rolls out this initiative, Nakuru is poised to become a model for modernizing informal dairy systems nationwide, ensuring safer milk and brighter prospects for its dairy community.