Dairy sector posts strong growth as budget cuts threaten KDB’s regulatory work
Kenya’s dairy sector has recorded strong growth in milk production, processing and formal marketing, but the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) has warned that budget cuts could weaken regulation and food safety surveillance. The warning was issued on Thursday, August 20, 2026, when the Agriculture and Livestock Committee, led by its Vice Chairperson Brighton Yegon, visited […]
The Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) has reported strong growth in the dairy sector, with national milk production increasing by 19% from 2021 to 2025 and reaching 5.52 billion litres in 2025. Formal milk intake surpassed one billion litres, and the value of formally marketed raw milk rose to Ksh50.3 billion. Processed dairy output also increased by 22.9%, reaching 967.05 million kilogrammes.
The Board attributed this growth to increased formalisation, regulatory interventions, and market development initiatives. However, KDB warned that budget cuts could weaken regulation and food safety surveillance, with its approved budget for the 2026/27 financial year reduced by Ksh175.15 million, representing a 23% reduction. This could constrain day-to-day operations, delay planned investments, and weaken food safety surveillance, market monitoring, enforcement, and nationwide regulatory coverage.
Brief written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
