Government targets 30% rise in household incomes by 2028 through Adoption of modern technology
By Zablon Oyugi
The government is set to boost Kenya’s national milk chilling capacity by 475,000 litres per day as part of a wider effort to modernize the dairy sector and raise household incomes by 30 percent by 2028, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Sen. Mutahi Kagwe has announced.
Speaking during the 69th Graduation Ceremony of the Dairy Training Institute (DTI) in Naivasha on Thursday, CS Kagwe said the expansion forms part of the Livestock Value Chain Support Project (LVCSP), a multi-billion-shilling initiative aimed at strengthening productivity, value addition, and market access across the dairy and pastoralist value chains.
“The dairy industry remains a key pillar of Kenya’s economy, offering vast opportunities for youth to innovate, create jobs, and drive rural transformation,” said CS Kagwe. “Your training at DTI has prepared you not just for employment, but to become employers—building enterprises that will transform our rural economies.”
During the event, the Cabinet Secretary distributed nine milk coolers to farmer producer organizations and institutions in Nakuru County. The coolers are part of the 230 units procured under LVCSP at a total cost of Ksh1.2 billion.
Once fully deployed across the country, the coolers will collectively add 475,000 litres of milk chilling capacity per day, equivalent to 173 million litres annually.
According to the Ministry, the new infrastructure will help reduce post-harvest milk losses, improve product quality, and strengthen the cold chain system, enabling smallholder farmers to negotiate better prices and access premium markets.
The LVCSP is also supporting the establishment of milk collection centres, value addition enterprises, and feed production systems to boost overall sector resilience.
CS Kagwe emphasized that increasing access to modern milk handling facilities is central to the government’s strategy to empower rural households, particularly youth and women engaged in dairy farming.
“Through this project, we are not only improving milk quality and farmer incomes but also creating a foundation for agro-industrial growth that supports Kenya’s food security agenda,” he noted.
The event was also attended by Hon. Jonathan Mueke, Principal Secretary for Livestock Development, Nakuru Deputy Governor Hon. David Kones, and other senior government officials.
DTI, Kenya’s premier dairy training institution, continues to play a vital role in professionalizing the dairy value chain by equipping trainees with modern technical and business skills. The CS commended the Class of 2025 for their resilience and dedication, noting that DTI graduates remain highly marketable in both public and private sectors.
Kagwe further encouraged the institute to leverage its 1,000-acre land through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to expand its revenue base, develop modern training facilities, and venture into livestock feed production.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting DTI with modern infrastructure and programs aligned with the government’s agricultural transformation agenda, ensuring the sector remains youth-driven, competitive, and sustainable.
“The future of Kenya’s dairy industry lies in innovation and enterprise. Our farmers, supported by skilled graduates and modern infrastructure, will drive the next phase of growth,” CS Kagwe said.
The enhanced milk chilling capacity is expected to stabilize prices, improve farmer earnings, and strengthen Kenya’s position as a regional leader in dairy production.