(NAIROBI, KENYA) – Kenya’s milk shortage is a warning that high national production figures do not automatically translate into reliable supplies, affordable prices and food security for consumers, according to Stephen Mutoro, Secretary General of the Consumers Federation of Kenya.
The current crisis exposes weaknesses in dairy sector planning, farmer support and the management of seasonal surpluses, Mr Mutoro said.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that formal sector milk intake declined by 5%, from 88.89 million litres in May 2026 to 84.44 million litres in June, he noted.
June intake was also 6.4% lower than the 90.24 million litres recorded a year earlier, according to the data. Mr Mutoro said these figures point to supply pressures that require an urgent, evidence based government response.
The effects are already being felt by households, he said. Rising retail prices, intermittent shortages of packaged milk and rationing at some outlets are making an essential food increasingly difficult to access.
Meanwhile, smallholder farmers, who account for approximately 80% of Kenya’s milk supply, face declining yields amid poor pasture and escalating animal feed costs, Mr Mutoro said.
He said the government must address both the immediate shortage and its underlying causes, adding that the Ministry of Agriculture should urgently roll out emergency fodder support and affordable feed programmes in affected dairy producing counties.
Mr Mutoro said the Treasury should consider temporary tax relief on key feed ingredients, including yellow maize and soya, to reduce production costs and prevent more farmers from abandoning dairy farming.
He also said the Kenya Dairy Board must account for how the 2025 milk surplus was managed and clarify the status of milk powder reserves.
Mr Mutoro said milk powder processing and strategic reserves should become permanent instruments for absorbing excess production during peak seasons and releasing supplies when production falls.
Equally important is transparency, he said. The government should publish regular data on milk intake, farm gate prices, retail prices and available reserves.
This would help consumers understand market conditions and allow authorities to identify artificial shortages or unjustified price increases, according to Mr Mutoro.
Ultimately, he said, Kenya needs a resilient dairy system that protects farmers from production shocks while ensuring consumers can afford milk.
The current crisis should prompt coordinated action, not competing explanations, Mr Mutoro said. He added that food security requires planning before shortages emerge, rather than emergency interventions after consumers begin paying the price.