Ruto pledges to clear Sh400 million owed to Kenyan dairy farmers
Kenyan President William Ruto said Sunday that his government will pay dairy farmers Sh400 million in unpaid bills. The pledge comes as milk runs short in shops across the country. Drought and costly animal feed have cut the milk that farmers send to processors.
Kenyan President William Ruto on Sunday pledged to clear about Sh400 million in bills owed to dairy farmers, the Daily Nation and The Star reported.
Speaking in Kapsabet, Nandi County, Ruto also announced plans to decentralise the state-owned New Kenya Cooperative Creameries, known as New KCC, and hand farmers more control of its factories, the Nation reported. He promised to raise milk prices to Sh65 per litre as part of reforms meant to make the processor profitable, the Nation reported.
"We don't want a situation where the New KCC factory in Eldoret is managed from Nairobi. The farmers should be allowed to own their factories, get better payments and earn dividends," Ruto said, according to the Nation. The government has put Sh8 billion into New KCC over the past three years, the Nation reported.
The pledge comes during a milk shortage. The Star reported that empty milk shelves have become common in supermarkets, that some retailers are limiting purchases and that hotels are changing their menus. Kenya produces an estimated 5.4 billion litres of milk a year, the Star reported.
Formal milk deliveries to processors fell from 84.4 million litres in June to 75 million litres in August, the Star reported, citing Kenya Dairy Board data. The price of fresh packaged milk rose 6% in September, the Star reported, citing the national statistics bureau.
Livestock Development PS Jonathan Mueke blamed the drop mainly on drought, which has cut pasture and raised feed costs, the Star reported. A farmer in Kitale said his herd of 23 cows now gives 400 to 460 litres a day, down from about 700, the Star reported.
Ruto's economic adviser David Ndii disputed that there is a production crisis. "Shortage reflects demand exceeding supply," he wrote on X, the Star reported. The Consumers Federation of Kenya has called for an emergency response, including feed support and milk reserves, the Star reported.
What we know: Ruto pledged to clear Sh400 million in unpaid bills to dairy farmers.
What we don't: When farmers will be paid and whether shelves will refill soon.
Where outlets agree The Daily Nation and The Star report that Ruto pledged on Sunday to clear about Sh400 million owed to dairy farmers.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.