Gachagua: Youths camping at my home to supply buffalo milk after Ruto’s proposal

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua/FILEDeputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revealed that President William Ruto’s proposal to introduce buffalo milk production in Kenya has sparked an unexpected business rush at his Wamunyoro home, with youths volunteering to supply him with milk from the wild animals.

Gachagua said some young people had approached him, offering to venture into Mt Kenya Forest, which borders his home, to milk buffaloes and sell the produce to his household.

“My Wamunyoro home borders Mt Kenya Forest. I find youths waiting for me, saying that they will be supplying milk to my home. They said they are willing to go to the forest and milk the buffalo to come and sell to me,” he said.

He narrated how some of the ambitious youths later encountered trouble after attempting to milk the animals.

“They reached there, they were kicked by the buffalo, and called to say that the buffalo had become angry. But there is an elephant; they promised to ask the President if they are allowed to take milk from an elephant,” he added.

Gachagua’s remarks come a month after Ruto floated the idea of exploring buffalo milk production as part of efforts to diversify the country’s dairy sector and address milk shortages.

Speaking during the Agriculture and Food Transformation Summit at the ASK Showground, the President said Kenya should consider tapping into buffalo milk production, pointing to countries such as India where the animals are widely reared for dairy purposes.

Ruto said he had instructed the Principal Secretary for Livestock to explore the introduction of improved camel and buffalo breeds to increase milk production.

“I had told the Livestock PS to bring in good breeds of camels and buffaloes. I hear buffaloes also produce a lot of milk. Tulikua tumesema tuanze na kidogo tuone hii buffalo, kama tunaweza kukamua. If others are milking them, why can’t we do the same? What is wrong with that? We need to diversify our sources of milk,” he said.

The proposal came amid concerns over declining milk production linked to prolonged drought, deteriorating pasture and rising animal feed costs.

The President also pointed to the commercial potential of camel milk, saying its higher retail price could provide livestock farmers with an alternative source of income.

“In town, a litre of camel milk goes for Sh180, almost Sh200. It’s triple the cow’s milk, so it’s good for us to start to think; we’re currently facing a milk shortage because of drought,” he said.

Buffalo milk is widely consumed in South Asia and is valued for its high fat and solids content.

It typically contains 7–8 per cent butterfat, compared with about 3–4 per cent in cow’s milk. This makes it suitable for making cheese, butter, yoghurt and ghee.

It also contains higher concentrations of protein and calcium than cow’s milk. However, like other animal milk, it must be properly pasteurised to eliminate harmful bacteria before consumption.