- Milk deliveries fall again, raising supply concerns.
- Dry weather hits pasture and milk production.
- KDB expects relief with the October to December rains.
Formal milk deliveries to processors dropped 3.7 per cent between June and July 2026, the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) has confirmed, as it moves to reassure consumers that current shortages are temporary and seasonal.
In a statement issued on September 1, 2026, KDB said formal milk deliveries fell from 84.4 million litres in June to 81.3 million litres in July. The regulator is still compiling formal intake figures for August, but preliminary data points to a further drop.
“Kenya Dairy Board wishes to reassure the public, consumers and dairy industry stakeholders that milk continues to be available in the market, despite temporary supply constraints being experienced in some parts of the country,” KDB Managing Director Dr William Maritim said.
Market surveillance conducted by the Board has meanwhile identified varying degrees of supply pressure across the country. Consequently, some outlets are recording low stock levels, reduced availability of certain brands and pack sizes, and delayed replenishment. Pasteurised milk has taken the biggest hit, while long-life varieties, extended shelf-life (ESL) and ultra-high-temperature (UHT) milk, remain comparatively more available.
Prices mostly stable, but pressure building
Retail milk prices have generally held steady, KDB said, although upward movement has emerged in areas facing supply constraints. Separately, the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) reported that some Nairobi retailers had begun rationing milk purchases, with fresh milk prices at one outlet climbing from Ksh70 to Ksh80 per litre. COFEK has since given the government seven days to outline measures to stabilise supply and prices.
Dry weather blamed for seasonal squeeze
According to the Board, the current situation stems largely from seasonal factors, particularly dry and cold conditions in key milk-producing areas that have limited pasture and fodder availability for dairy herds. Nevertheless, KDB expects relief once the October-November-December (OND) 2026 rainfall season sets in.
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“The outlook for the October-November-December 2026 rainfall season is expected to support recovery in pasture and fodder availability, leading to improved milk production and supply as conditions become more favourable,” the statement read.
Government rolls out support measures
To strengthen the dairy value chain, the government is procuring and distributing milk coolers to improve aggregation and preservation, alongside subsidising sexed semen to boost herd improvement. These interventions, the Board said, will contribute to steadier production and more reliable supplies over time.
KDB added that it will continue monitoring production, formal deliveries, market availability and retail prices, working with industry stakeholders under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to keep supplies adequate and stable.
By Benedict Aoya
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