Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki has handed over nine milk coolers valued at Sh100million to dairy cooperative societies in Kiambu County, giving thousands of farmers new capacity to preserve their milk, reduce losses and negotiate for better prices.

The equipment was flagged off on Friday at the Limuru Milk Processing Plant grounds. It will be distributed among cooperative societies serving nine sub-counties. The coolers are expected to benefit about 21,000 dairy farmers and earn about Sh700 billion every year.

Prof. Kindiki said the equipment formed part of a wider government programme to strengthen the dairy value chain by helping farmers preserve the quality of their milk before it reaches processors. Cooling milk soon after collection slows spoilage and allows cooperatives to aggregate larger volumes for sale.

“We are working to fulfil the promises we made to the people by investing in projects that have a direct effect on household incomes, these coolers will help our farmers cut post-harvest losses, protect the quality of their milk and earn more from their work,” he said

The DP said the government had so far distributed 227 milk coolers out of a planned 230 under the current phase of the programme. The remaining three machines are expected to be delivered before another round of distribution begins in February 2027.

Prof. Kindiki said dairy farming remained an important source of income for rural households and should receive sustained public investment, where Kenya produces more than five billion litres of milk annually, accounting for a substantial share of Africa’s milk output.

“The dairy industry supports families, creates jobs and contributes hundreds of billions of shillings to our economy every year, our duty is to ensure that farmers have the equipment, markets and services they need to turn production into reliable income,”  Prof. Kindiki added.

Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke urged dairy cooperatives and processors that still lacked cooling equipment to submit formal applications to his office.

He said the government would assess the requests and provide machines to eligible groups as equipment became available.

Any dairy cooperative or processor that requires a milk cooler should write a letter to the State Department for Livestock Development, we will review the request, confirm the need and ensure that deserving farmers receive the equipment” Mueke said.

The PS explained that the government wanted cooling facilities placed close to farmers, particularly in areas where milk collection volumes were high but storage infrastructure remained inadequate.

Without refrigeration, cooperatives can be forced to sell milk quickly, sometimes at unfavorable prices, or risk losing it to spoilage, he added.

The new equipment is also expected to complement investments already made at Limuru Dairy, a farmer-owned processor that collects about 30,000 litres of milk each day from thousands of producers. Better collection and cooling capacity would help the processor secure a steadier supply of raw milk, while giving farmers more dependable access to the market.

The DP reiterated the Kenya Kwanza administration will continue supporting agricultural value chains through equipment, processing facilities and measures intended to lower production costs.

For Kiambu’s dairy farmers, he said, the nine coolers were not merely storage tanks, but an investment in the value of every litre delivered to a cooperative.

The dairy sector continues to play a central role in Kenya’s rural economy. By expanding access to cooling facilities, the government aims to raise the volume and quality of milk reaching formal markets, strengthen cooperative institutions and improve returns for the 21,000 farmers expected to benefit from the current distribution.

With 227 coolers already issued and only three remaining under the present target, the February phase is expected to extend similar support to additional dairy enterprises across the country.

By Grace Naishoo