Counties join forces to boost Kenya’s informal dairy sector

KENYA – Kenyan, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, and Nyandarua counties have joined forces to launch an initiative aimed at transforming Kenya’s informal dairy sector.

Known as More Milk for Lives and Livelihoods 2 (MoreMilk 2), this project, driven by the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), seeks to make milk safer and help informal vendors build stronger businesses. 

Between March 25 and April 2, the MoreMilk 2 team held technical meetings with county leaders and stakeholders to shape a plan that fits local needs, with hopes of expanding it nationwide.

According to KDB, the informal dairy sector supplies over 70% of the milk consumed in Kenyan homes. Rather than cracking down on these vendors, MoreMilk 2 aims to support them by offering training and tools to meet safety standards. 

Maritim Kimutai, KDB Director of Regulatory Services, emphasized this shift in approach, saying, “Despite having a strong formal sector, informal milk markets still dominate. We must find a way to work with them rather than against them.” 

The initiative builds on the success of MoreMilk 1, a pilot in Eldoret that showed how vendors could improve with the right guidance.

According to ILRI, MoreMilk 2 bridges research and real-world action, ensuring policies reflect what works on the ground. 

The recent county visits were a chance to listen, not dictate. The team met with officials like County Executive Committee Members and livestock directors to align the project with existing efforts. 

Abraham Kiptanui, Uasin Gishu County Director of Livestock Production, noted, “With MoreMilk 1 in Eldoret, we saw vendors grow their businesses and children drinking more milk. MoreMilk 2 builds on that success with a system-wide focus from farmer to vendor.”

The project goes beyond safety, offering business skills training, promoting gender inclusion, and encouraging climate-friendly practices. 

Nakuru’s Director of Livestock Production, Virginia Ngunjiri, praised this approach, stating it fits their goal of organizing and training vendors rather than sidelining them. 

In Nyandarua, a major dairy-producing area, officials see it as a way to boost local milk consumption and open new markets for farmers.

A report by ILRI highlights plans to roll out vendor training, certification programs, and safe milk market hubs in the coming months. 

The initiative also aims to strengthen county policies for long-term growth. 

With strong backing from local leaders, MoreMilk 2 promises to deliver safer milk to Kenyan households while creating opportunities for vendors and farmers, setting a model for sustainable change in the dairy sector.