County-led Initiative to Transform Kenya’s Informal Dairy Sector
By Science Africa correspondent
To get more safe milk into Kenyan homes while helping informal dairy vendors grow stronger businesses, the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), through a new county-led initiative, organized a series of technical engagements across three counties: Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, and Nyandarua.
In preparation for a rollout in these counties, the More Milk for Lives and Livelihoods 2 (MoreMilk 2) initiative conducted consultations with county leadership and stakeholders to co-design an approach that aligns with local priorities. The long-term vision is to scale it to other counties across Kenya.
Central to the initiative is supporting counties to unblock the potential of informal milk markets for better health, businesses, and livelihoods.
MoreMilk 2 builds on the success of MoreMilk 1, a pilot initiative led by ILRI in Eldoret that demonstrated how informal milk vendors can be agents of change when given the right support.
It does this through repositioning informal vendors from problem to solution. With more than 70% of local milk consumption in Kenya being sourced informally, the initiative is working on establishing a more suitable compliance path by supporting vendors in becoming legitimate actors in the food system.
“Despite having a strong formal sector, informal milk markets still dominate. We must find a way to work with them rather than against them. We need to rethink how we police the sector, how we empower them so they can be more compliant,” Maritim Kimutai, KDB Director Regulatory Services.
The initiative also focuses on co-creation. The MoreMilk 2 team met with County Executive Committee Members (CECMs), directors of agriculture, livestock, public health, cooperatives and regulatory teams to understand existing efforts and ensure the initiative aligns with county priorities and strategies.
“With MoreMilk 1 in Eldoret, we saw vendors grow their businesses and children drinking more milk. MoreMilk 2 builds on that success with a system-wide focus from farmer to vendor.” Abraham Kiptanui Uasin Gishu County Director of Livestock Production.
Another pillar of the MoreMilk 2 initiative is empowerment, where the informal dairy vendors are supported to adopt best practices through training, coaching and incentives – showing the value of safe milk as a path to business growth, community health, and consumer trust.
“Nakuru does not condemn informal vendors; instead, it tries to organize and train them. That’s why the MoreMilk2 initiative resonates well with us, as it seeks to invest in and build the capacity of informal sector vendors rather than sidelining them,” Virginia Ngunjiri, Director of Livestock Production, Nakuru County.
Besides, the initiative goes beyond milk safety- offering training in business skills, promoting gender inclusion, and integrating climate resilience into everyday practices. It is a project that builds capacity within informality, providing vendors with practical tools and incentives to improve milk safety, earn more, and expand their businesses
“MoreMilk2 is not just about milk. It is about dignity. It is about equity. And it is about building a system where everyone – vendors, farmers, consumers, government – wins,” Silvia Alonso, Principal Scientist, ILRI.