Kenya Turns to Uganda for Milk as Local Production Falls Short

Kenya is set to bridge the milk shortage gap by seeking alternatives, such as imports from neighboring Uganda, as local dairy production continues to dwindle.

While speaking at the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru Family Day on September 5, Cabinet Secretary for Trade, Investments, and Industry Lee Kinyanjui confirmed the move to counter the shortage. 

CS Kinyanjui used the platform to reveal that the country is currently unable to meet its own domestic milk demand, admitting that Uganda is the only viable option.

“Locally we are not able to meet our demand, so we are actually importing from our neighbouring countries like Uganda and we believe that this is not where the country should be. So we urge the farmers, we will support you to ensure that you can produce for the nation for self-sufficiency,” CS Kinyanjui stated.

He attributed the shortage to a prolonged dry spell that has battered farmers and disrupted milk production across several regions, and assured farmers that government support was on the way, with a renewed push toward helping the country achieve self-sufficiency in milk production.

Uganda has grown into one of the region’s biggest dairy players, producing roughly 5.3 to 5.4 billion liters of milk every year, more than what the entire country can consume.

Its key milk-producing zones, including Ankole, Mbarara, greater Masaka, and Ntungamo, have helped the country maintain steady output even during dry seasons.

Unlike raw milk exports, Uganda has shifted toward value-added dairy products such as pasteurized milk, milk powder, and butter oil.

This strategic shift has cemented its position as a net exporter, supplying surplus milk to neighboring countries, Kenya included.

When placed side by side, Kenya’s annual output of around 5.2 to 5.4 billion liters closely rivals Uganda’s, yet Kenya still struggles to satisfy local demand due to weather shocks and reliance on smallholder farming, while Uganda’s production remains far more stable.

However, this agreement is not an abrupt one but is based on the Mutual Recognition Agreement signed on the sidelines of the 46th COMESA Policy Organs Meeting last year. 

The deal targets cross-border trade in maize, rice, beans, sorghum, soybeans, and groundnuts, as well as other products that might be affected by an abrupt shortage, such as milk, to boost food security, raise farmer incomes, improve trade efficiency, and ensure seamless commodity movement through the Malaba border post.