- The Kenyan government received 800 applications from farmers eager to rear Indian dairy buffaloes amid a worsening milk shortage
- Livestock Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke said health certification requirements for the import have been completed, with pricing and logistics still under negotiation
- A Kenyan delegation comprising farmers, experts, and policymakers is set to visit India in November to study commercial buffalo dairy farming
Kenya has received 800 applications from farmers seeking to acquire dairy buffaloes for milk production, as the government moves closer to finalising an import arrangement with India.
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Principal Secretary for Livestock, Jonathan Mueke, disclosed that the ministry has completed the veterinary health certification requirements needed to bring the animals into the country.
Negotiations on pricing and transport logistics are still ongoing.
The initiative was a central topic at the first Agricultural Transformation and Food Systems Conference 2026, held at the Kenya Agricultural Society (ASK) Jamhuri Showground from October 7 to 9.
President William Ruto directed Mueke at the event to develop a structured plan for introducing buffalo dairy farming as a means of boosting Kenya's milk output, citing persistent drought and the high cost of animal feed as key obstacles facing livestock farmers.
Kenya's Dairy Sector Under Pressure
The president also raised concerns about the country's reliance on imported inputs, particularly soya and sunflower used in the manufacture of animal feed, which he said compounds production costs for smallholder farmers.
Mueke noted that the government has been in consultation with farmers on the proposal for approximately 18 months and has established ties with India, a country with extensive experience in commercial buffalo dairy farming.
He said roughly 203 million buffaloes are kept globally, with their milk containing nearly three times the fat content of standard cattle milk.
That elevated fat level makes buffalo milk particularly suited for processing into high-value products such as cheese, yoghurt, butter, and ghee, several of which Kenya currently imports.
The government intends to source the Murrah breed from India, a variety widely recognised for its high milk yields.
Prices in India range from approximately KSh 102,572 to KSh 510,289, depending on the animal's age, health condition, and productivity.
Mueke was clear that the animals being considered are domesticated buffaloes, distinct from the wild Cape buffalo native to Africa.
Delegation to Visit India in November
A Kenyan delegation made up of farmers, technical specialists, and policy officials is scheduled to travel to India in November to gain first-hand knowledge of buffalo husbandry and commercial milk production methods.
Egypt, which has around five million domesticated buffaloes used for dairy purposes, was also cited as a reference point for how the animal can be integrated into a national dairy system.
Source: TUKO.co.ke