NAIVASHA, Kenya — The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has imposed an immediate ban on the importation of milk powder from neighbouring countries, citing a sharp rise in domestic production and the need to safeguard local dairy farmers from unfair competition.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced the decision during a stakeholders’ meeting in Naivasha, saying Kenya has now become the second-largest milk producer in Africa after Egypt.
He said the move was designed to stabilize the local market, protect farmers’ incomes, and promote value addition in the dairy sector.
“We want to warn those illegal importers of milk powder into the country that we have noticed what they are doing and would like them to stop,” Kagwe said. “Everything that is consumed by a human being must be vetted and verified.”
The Cabinet Secretary also banned street hawking of milk, citing public health risks linked to unregulated handling and sales. “That is why we also stopped the concept of hawking milk, because we started getting problems. Mothers started complaining about children getting diarrhoea, and people started getting sick because we did not know the source,” he added.
According to Kagwe, Kenya’s annual milk demand stands at about eight billion litres. He said that with ongoing investments in livestock feeds, disease control, and farmer training, the country is on track to achieve self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on imports.
To further lower production costs, Kagwe revealed that the government plans to waive taxes on animal feeds and boost local manufacturing of livestock rations that meet both protein and energy requirements.
The ministry also launched the Good Quality Milk Certification Program, an initiative designed to reward farmers who supply safe, high-quality milk and penalize those delivering contaminated produce.
Under the program, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) has rolled out Aflasafe KE01, a biological product that significantly reduces aflatoxin contamination in maize — a key ingredient in animal feed.
“No dairy export without quality,” Kagwe emphasized.
“Aflatoxin in maize feed passes straight into milk and locks us out of lucrative markets. If we are serious about doubling production and exporting, we must fix feed quality first. Use aflatoxin-free maize. Adopt Aflasafe. This is the only way to guarantee the best milk for Kenyans and protect our place in global markets.”
The latest ban marks a renewed effort by the government to regulate milk imports after a series of policy reversals in 2023.
At the time, the Kenya Dairy Board halted milk powder imports to prevent market oversupply following a bumper local production season. However, the ban was later lifted by the then-Agriculture Permanent Secretary Harry Kimtai, citing compliance with the East African Community (EAC) trade protocols.
This year’s decision, analysts say, could stir trade debates within the EAC, where dairy products are among the key commodities traded under the customs union. While the ministry maintains that the ban targets imports from outside the bloc, enforcement challenges may arise in distinguishing regional transfers from third-party imports.
For now, the government says it is prioritizing local production and consumer safety. “We must strengthen our dairy value chain from farm to shelf,” Kagwe said. “That’s how we secure livelihoods, create jobs, and make Kenya the dairy powerhouse of Africa.”
