Milk Shortage Hits Kenya
Consumers in Nairobi and other parts of the country are facing limited milk supplies, with some supermarkets reporting empty shelves and fewer brands and pack sizes.
Traders said deliveries have declined, while some outlets have also reported price increases of between Ksh.3 and Ksh.5 for a 500-millilitre packet. The Kenya Dairy Board revealed that the shortage is temporary and largely seasonal.
Several outlets in Nairobi and its environs have reported limited stocks, with some popular brands missing from the shelves altogether.
Some supermarkets began rationing purchases as drought cuts dairy production and processors struggle to secure adequate raw milk.
A spot check at several supermarkets and retail outlets in Nairobi found empty or sparsely stocked shelves, with some retailers limiting the amount of milk customers can buy amid concerns over declining supplies.
At some outlets, consumers were being limited to as little as one litre of milk from dispensers, while some wholesalers were restricting purchases of packaged milk to fewer than five packets per customer instead of a carton.
In a statement, the Kenya Dairy Board said formal milk deliveries to processors fell by 3.7 per cent, from 84.4 million litres in June to 81.3 million litres in July.
The board said preliminary indications point to a further decline in August, largely due to seasonal production conditions.
It said the prevailing dry and cold weather in key milk-producing areas has affected pasture and fodder availability, with pasteurised milk more affected than long-life varieties.
The milk shortage is highlighting growing pressure across Kenya’s dairy supply chain. With formal milk intake declining, attention is now turning to how quickly supply can be restored and prices stabilised.
The Board is still compiling formal milk intake data for August, but preliminary indications point to a further decline in deliveries.
“Pasteurised milk has generally been more affected, while long-life milk (ESL and UHT) remains comparatively more available,” Maritim said.
The decline has resulted in varying levels of supply constraints across the country, with the board reporting low stock levels, reduced availability of some brands and pack sizes and delays in replenishing some retail outlets.
Despite the disruptions, KDB said retail milk prices have generally remained stable, although some upward price movements have been recorded in areas facing tighter supplies.
Maritim attributed the dry and cold conditions in key milk-producing areas to affected pasture and fodder availability, leading to lower milk production.
The board expects the situation to improve during the projected rainfall season, which is forecast to support the recovery of pasture and fodder.
"The outlook for the October- November-December 2026 rainfall season is expected to support recovery in pasture and fodder availability, leading to improved milk production and supply as conditions become more favourable," the board stated.
The reassurance comes amid reports of milk shortages in some retail outlets, particularly affecting pasteurised milk.
Milk processors in key producing areas such as Kericho are also lamenting the decline in supply.
“What the cooperatives societies are really collecting now is below 60 per cent because the most important and most reliable problem we are seeing is the short rainfall that has reduced the production of fodder. Another issue is the high cost of fuel," Moses Rotich, chairman of Kericho Dairy Cooperative Union, stated.
"When the fuel went up, farmers who used to conserve feed cannot conserve because they are conserving using diesel in tractors, and currently there is no feed in reserves,”