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The Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) to enhance milk output and improve safety standards in Kenya’s dairy sector.
The partnership will leverage ILRI’s research expertise and KDB’s regulatory mandate to drive growth, innovation, and sustainability along the dairy value chain. Key areas of focus include upgrading production and processing, raising consumer awareness, and supporting smallholder farmers and processors.
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Kenya currently produces 5.33 billion litres of milk annually, contributing about 4.5 percent of GDP. However, more than half of this supply is traded informally, providing affordable nutrition and employment for women and youth, while only 20 percent passes through formal markets such as cooperatives, processors, and retailers.
KDB Acting Managing Director Dr. Kimutai Maritim said the deal will help Kenya achieve its goal of doubling milk consumption by 2030, while ensuring inclusive and sustainable sector growth.
ILRI Director General Appolinaire Djikeng added that the collaboration will bridge gaps between informal and formal markets, raise safety and quality standards, and scale innovations to improve farmer productivity.
The agreement builds on earlier joint efforts under the MoreMilk 2 project, which demonstrated that vendor-regulator partnerships can enhance milk safety in informal markets.
It will now be expanded to more counties, with initiatives on improved genetics, animal feeds, and production practices aimed at boosting national milk output from 8 billion litres today to over 18 billion litres by 2030 under the Kenya Dairy Master Plan.
The pact also aims to unlock new export opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa while promoting value-added dairy products to strengthen Kenya’s regional competitiveness.
