Business · Energy & Commodities · 2 days ago
Ruto calls for camel, goat and sheep milk as Kenyan prices rise
Kenya’s President William Ruto has urged the country to produce more milk from camels, goats and sheep, alongside cows.
He made the call at an agriculture summit in Nairobi as drought reduced cow’s milk supplies.
Some shops and milk dispensers in Nairobi estates were charging as much as Sh85 a litre.
Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe described the situation as a decline in supply, rather than a milk shortage.
Ruto asked the livestock development principal secretary to speed up work to find improved camel breeds.
He said pastoralist communities need investment and support to increase production and reach urban markets.
The government also says it will work with dairy cooperatives and processors to address problems in the sector.
Ruto said reforms are intended to improve farmers’ earnings and ensure they are paid on time.
President William Ruto urged Kenya to diversify milk production to include camels, goats and sheep as declining supplies pushed retail prices to as high as Sh85 a litre.
Ruto attributed the decline in cow’s milk supply to a recent drought.
He directed Principal Secretary for Livestock Development Jonathan Mueke to fast-track the search for improved camel breeds.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe described the situation as a decline in supply and played down claims of a milk shortage.
Ruto said national milk production had risen from 4.5 billion litres to 5.5 billion litres over the past three years.
- Who
- President William Ruto urged diversification; Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe played down claims of a milk shortage.
- What
- Ruto called for more milk from camels, goats and sheep as retail prices reached Sh85 a litre in some places.
- When
- Ruto made the call on Friday, at the close of a three-day summit.
- Where
- Jamhuri Showgrounds in Nairobi; prices of Sh85 were reported in several Nairobi estates.
- Why
- Ruto said drought had reduced cow’s milk supplies, and diversification could ease pressure on them.
President William Ruto
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe
Milk supply
President William Ruto
Ruto attributed declining supplies to drought and called for action to expand Kenya’s dairy base.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe
Kagwe played down claims of a milk shortage, describing the situation as a decline in supply.
We need to diversify our source of milk, from camels, sheep, goats and even from buffaloes
Farmers should not have to wait two or three months to receive their money
The government would continue engaging dairy cooperatives and processors to address challenges affecting the sector
Ruto said drought had affected production and contributed to declining milk supplies.
Ruto urged milk-source diversification at the close of the three-day Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit 2026 in Nairobi.
Ruto directed Jonathan Mueke to fast-track the search for improved camel breeds.
Nation reported retail milk prices of up to Sh85 a litre in several Nairobi estates.
- Highest reported retail price
- Sh85 a litre
- Nairobi estates named
- Kasarani, Githurai, Zimmerman, Kayole, Buruburu and Embakasi
- Milk price in Zimmerman before shortage
- Sh75 a litre
- National milk production
- Rose from 4.5 billion litres to 5.5 billion litres over three years
- Summit venue
- Jamhuri Showgrounds, Nairobi
- Principal Secretary for Livestock Development
- Jonathan Mueke
Sources
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