The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has urged the government to take immediate action to address a growing national milk shortage and stabilise retail prices following a steep drop in production.
Official figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics show that formal milk intake dropped by 5% between May and June 2026, falling to 84.4 million litres as prolonged dry spells and soaring feed costs hit dairy farming communities. Smallholder farmers, who account for roughly 80% of Kenya’s milk supply, report that daily yields per cow have nearly halved. The shortage has forced retailers in Nairobi to begin rationing milk purchases, with fresh milk prices rising to 80 Kenyan Shillings ($0.62) per litre.
In a formal petition issued in Nairobi, COFEK Secretary-General Stephen Mutoro demanded that the Ministry of Agriculture publish a 7-day emergency recovery plan and activate feed subsidies for affected counties. COFEK also called on the National Treasury to immediately waive import duties and value added tax on key livestock feed inputs, including soya and yellow maize, to prevent smallholder farmers from abandoning dairy production.
–ChannelAfrica/COFEK–
