Farmers in Kajiado County are encouraging Kenyans to embrace goat milk as an alternative source of dairy products amid concerns about milk supply in the country.
According to the farmers, goats consume about three kilograms of feed daily while a cow requires 15 kilograms per day, making them a potentially cheaper option for farmers looking to venture into milk production.
“Goat milk offers an opportunity to increase milk production while giving farmers an alternative to cattle, which require more feed and can be costly to maintain,” one of the farmers said.
The farmer added that the current retail price for goat milk is Ksh 120 per litre when purchased directly from producers, presenting an income opportunity for farmers willing to invest in dairy goat farming.
A herd of goats at a farm.
Photo
Muchiri Gichuri
“We would like more farmers to keep goats because you can milk them and earn income. Farmers selling goat milk are supplying it to us at Ksh120 per litre when we buy directly from the farms,” the farmer said.
The milk alternative suggestions came days after the government recently announced that it is considering importing water buffaloes and camels to be able to combat the challenge of milk shortage in the country.
This sparked mixed reactions among Kenyans; however, some shared memes and digitally altered images of themselves milking the animals, although the idea is not entirely new.
In January 2025, the government had already taken steps to introduce domesticated water buffaloes into Kenya’s food industry; this was done in a declaration, Gazette Notice No. 977, on January 31, 2025, although it did not establish a programme for producing buffalo milk.
Goat milk, on the other hand, according to preliminary reports, presents higher protein and calcium compared to cow milk, therefore providing more nutrients to the consumers.
From a spot check done last month by Kenyans.co.ke with the rise in milk shortage in the country, some areas experience higher costs of milk retailing, from as low as Ksh 90 per litre to close to Ksh120 per litre in some parts of Nairobi.
According to the farmers' report, the cost of buying goat milk for the farmer directly is Ksh 120 per litre, meaning if retailed, it would be more expensive to purchase.
For farmers in Kajiado, expanding dairy goat farming could provide an additional source of income while increasing the range of milk products available to consumers.
Photo collage of a farmer sieving milk and an individual ready to drink milk in a cup.
Photo
SNV