- KWS Aberdare National Park posted a hilarious warning after Kenyans reportedly showed up with buckets and Arimis milking jelly at the park
- President Ruto proposed introducing domesticated water buffaloes to Kenya to address milk shortages, sparking widespread public curiosity
- Wildlife rangers reminded Kenyans that wild Cape buffaloes are dangerous animals, not dairy livestock, and could turn the tables on would-be milkers
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Kenya Wildlife Service's Aberdare National Park took to Facebook on October 12 with a warning that was equal parts urgent and comedic, after it emerged that some Kenyans had allegedly turned up at the park armed with milking buckets and Arimis Milking Jelly, apparently ready to get to work on the resident wild buffaloes.
Source: Facebook
The post, written in a breezy mix of Swahili and English, did not hold back. "Mbona mnakuja kwa park na ndoo na Arimis?" the rangers asked, sharing images of the milking supplies alongside close-up photographs of Cape buffaloes wearing distinctly unimpressed expressions.
What Sparked the Buffalo Milk Craze
The unlikely inspiration behind the visits traces back to an Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit held at Jamhuri Park in Nairobi on October 8 and 9, 2026, where President William Ruto floated the idea of introducing domesticated water buffaloes, known scientifically as Bubalus bubalis, to Kenya.
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The proposal was intended to diversify the country's dairy sources and ease a persistent national milk shortage.
The suggestion drew swift criticism from several quarters, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who questioned why the government was looking at foreign livestock solutions when existing local dairy cattle farmers continued to struggle without adequate support. Ordinary consumers also expressed scepticism about whether water buffaloes could realistically be domesticated and safely handled on a wide scale.
Somewhere in that national conversation, a few Kenyans appear to have concluded that the buffaloes already living in the country's national parks were close enough to get started on.
KWS Sets the Record Straight
The rangers were clear: Africa's Cape buffalo is an entirely different animal from the domesticated water buffalo found in parts of Asia.
"Hawa wetu ni wild buffalos sio kama wa India," the post stated firmly, adding that a buffalo curling its face is not displaying attitude but issuing a warning. The post concluded with a pointed piece of advice to "abort the milking mission before they milk you instead."
Kenyans Hilariously React
The post quickly attracted reactions from Kenyans who were equally amused and opinionated.
Bernard Mbogo wrote:
"I'm Mbogo, I'm seeking my namesake Mbogo wa Msitu. I know she will cooperate since we share the same name. I know she will give me milk. 'Mbogo, mbogo, can you hear me? Here, your namesake, kindly give me your milk, and I will thank you later."
Jenniffer was more straightforward in her solution:
"Then train them to be like cows coz we urgently need milk; they should calm down waache vita we just milk and leave them in peace."
Nomo offered a factual correction to those comparing Indian cows and buffaloes: "Cows in India are considered sacred. Am not sure they are milked for domestic use. The reason water buffaloes stand in the gap!!"
KWS urged all park visitors to observe wildlife from a safe distance and leave the milking equipment at home.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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