William Ruto Press Conference Kenya 2
President William Ruto has proposed introducing buffalo farming and expanding camel milk production in Kenya to increase milk supply and raise farmers’ incomes.
Speaking at the Agriculture and Food Security Summit at Jamhuri Park in Nairobi on Friday, October 9, Ruto said the government should explore importing improved camel breeds and bringing in buffaloes for milk production.
He noted that buffaloes are already used for dairy in India.
He said he had directed Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke to help source better camel breeds and examine the buffalo option.
Ruto suggested starting small to test whether buffaloes can be milked successfully in Kenya.
Structured plan for the camel industry
The President also backed a proposal by camel farmer Mohamed Hassan, saying Kenya needs a structured plan to develop camel farming.
He said it should cover milk, meat and hides so farmers earn from more than one product.
Ruto pointed to strong urban prices, saying camel milk sells for about KSh180 per litre, nearly three times the price of cow’s milk.
He said improved breeds could help farmers in drought-prone areas produce more and earn more.
Kenya now Africa’s largest milk producer, says Ruto
The proposals followed his announcement on Thursday, October 8, that Kenya has become Africa’s largest milk producer.
He said annual output rose from about 4.5 billion litres to 5.6 billion litres, crediting reforms such as lower fertiliser prices that helped farmers grow fodder and silage.
Ruto said farmers who earned KSh35 per litre four years ago now get KSh50 to KSh60, and promised further increases.
Shortage hits supermarkets despite higher output
Despite the record production claim, consumers in several urban areas have struggled to find fresh milk. Reports from Nairobi describe empty shelves and some retailers limiting how many packets customers can buy.
Kenya Dairy Board data shows formal milk intake fell from 84.4 million litres in June 2026 to about 81.3 million litres in July, a drop of about 3.7 per cent.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe blamed dry weather, which has reduced pasture and raised feed costs. He ruled out foot-and-mouth disease as the cause.
The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has criticised the government’s response, calling the shortage foreseeable and avoidable.
The group says commercial feed prices have risen by nearly 45 per cent, squeezing smallholders, who supply about 80 per cent of Kenya’s milk.
Annual production figures can rise even as the milk reaching processors dips, since weather, feed availability and farmers’ ability to sustain output all affect deliveries.
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