Kenya has turned to neighboring Uganda to bridge a sharp milk deficit after local output tumbled, leaving retail shelves depleted and prices climbing across the country.
Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui confirmed the intervention, acknowledging that domestic processors can no longer satisfy consumer demand.
“Locally, we are not able to meet our demand, so we are actually importing from our neighboring countries like Uganda, and we believe that this is not where the country should be.”
The supply squeeze stems primarily from severe environmental factors affecting key dairy belts across the country.
Prolonged dry and cold weather spells have reduced pasture availability, putting intense pressure on fodder supplies.
According to data from the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB), formal intake by dairy processors fell 3.7%—dropping from 84.4 million liters in June to 81.3 million liters in July, with preliminary August figures signaling further dips.
Supermarkets and estate kiosks report low stocks of pasteurized milk, with retail prices rising by Ksh 3 to Ksh 5 per 500ml packet. Extended Shelf-Life (ESL) and UHT milk remain marginally more available.
Uganda’s growing dairy sector has positioned it to absorb Kenya’s shortfall. Production in Uganda reached 5.4 billion liters, providing a reliable surplus of UHT milk and powder for export into regional markets. Trade between the two East African Community (EAC) neighbors is supported by recent cross-border frameworks aimed at streamlining commodity transit and inspection through border posts like Malaba.
Principal Secretary for Livestock Development Jonathan Mueke assured the public that the shortage is temporary. To stabilize supply without fueling retail inflation, the Ministry is enacting immediate relief measures:
Co-coordinating with feed manufacturers to distribute emergency fodder stocks to smallholder dairy farmers via cooperatives.
Monitoring daily production and retail flow metrics to direct milk imports strictly where deficits are severe.
Incentivizing local dairy farmers to scale production to reduce long-term structural dependence on neighboring imports.
