“We Agreed to Start With Just a Few of them” Ruto Reveals His Buffalo-Milking Plan

President William Ruto has sparked fresh discussion after suggesting that Kenya should explore buffalo milk production as the country struggles with declining milk supplies.

Speaking at the Agriculture and Food Security Transformation Summit in Nairobi, Ruto said the country could learn from India, where buffaloes play a major role in the dairy industry.

His proposal has raised questions about whether introducing the animals could create new opportunities for Kenyan farmers.

“I hear buffaloes also produce a lot of milk. We had agreed to start with just a few to see if we could milk them,” Ruto said in remarks shared by Kenyans.co.ke on October 9, 2026.

He added that if other countries could successfully milk buffaloes, Kenya should also consider the idea.

The President indicated that he had asked the Principal Secretary for Livestock to explore improved breeds of buffaloes and camels.

The proposal comes at a difficult time for Kenya’s dairy sector.

According to the Kenya News Agency, prolonged drought has reduced pasture availability, increased animal feed costs and contributed to declining milk deliveries to processors.

These challenges have affected farmers, dairy companies and consumers, with shortages putting pressure on supplies in several urban markets.

Ruto also highlighted camel milk as another possible source of income for livestock farmers.

The Star reported that he cited its relatively high selling price in urban markets and called for greater diversification of milk production.

In India, buffalo milk is widely used to make dairy products such as yoghurt, butter and cheese, demonstrating its commercial potential.

However, introducing buffaloes would require careful planning, including suitable breeds, reliable water and feed supplies, animal health services and processing facilities.

The proposal is an idea to explore, not an immediate solution to the shortage. Farmers will want to know whether the investment would be affordable and profitable.

The bigger question is whether the government can turn the proposal into a practical plan that increases milk supplies while protecting farmers and consumers from rising costs.

https://x.com/Kenyans/status/2108568163952861636