By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, May 21, 2026 - The government has launched a nationwide crackdown on milk hawking, warning that the sale of unregulated raw milk is endangering public health and hurting Kenya’s dairy industry.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the State would tighten controls on informal milk trade while expanding organised dairy collection systems to improve milk quality, traceability and farmer earnings.
Speaking on Wednesday during the flagging off of 25 bulk milk coolers at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, Mr Kagwe said millions of Kenyans continue to consume milk that cannot be traced or tested, exposing families to serious health risks.
“Millions of Kenyans are consuming milk whose source and safety cannot be guaranteed. This is a major public health concern, especially for children,” said Mr Kagwe.
He added that unregulated milk trade was also denying farmers opportunities to benefit from value-added dairy products such as yoghurt, cheese and milk powder.
The CS announced that the government is distributing 230 milk coolers worth Sh1.4 billion across the country under ongoing reforms aimed at modernising the dairy sector and reducing post-harvest losses.
The coolers are being supplied through the Livestock Value Chain Support Project (LVCSP) and are expected to stabilise milk prices, improve cold-chain systems and strengthen dairy cooperatives.
Mr Kagwe said the reforms are part of a broader plan to transform Kenya into a globally competitive dairy producer while protecting farmers from exploitation by middlemen and fluctuating prices.
“We want farmers to earn more from their milk while ensuring consumers access safe and quality dairy products,” he said.
The CS also announced the rollout of subsidised sexed semen programmes to improve dairy genetics and increase milk productivity.
At the same time, the government is promoting local production of animal feed to lower production costs for farmers.
The 25 milk coolers flagged off in Nairobi have been delivered to dairy cooperatives and farmer producer organisations in Kakamega, Kisumu, Laikipia, Machakos, Makueni, Narok, Nyeri and Uasin Gishu counties.
According to the ministry, the project will directly benefit thousands of smallholder dairy farmers by improving milk collection, preservation and aggregation at the grassroots level.
Officials said the aggregation centres are also expected to create rural business hubs, support value addition and enhance efficiency within the dairy value chain.
The event was attended by State Department for Livestock Development Secretary Administration Jonathan Mueke, Principal Secretary Dr Joshua Chepchieng, LVCSP head Thomas Sagwe, farmers and dairy sector stakeholders.
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