Government Moves to Protect Local Farmers with Ban on Milk Powder Imports and Street Hawking

By Grace Waithaka.

The Ministry of Agriculture has announced a ban on the importation of milk powder and the hawking of milk to protect local dairy farmers from unfair competition as milk supply continues to rise across the country.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said that allowing milk powder imports at this time would suppress farmers’ earnings, while halting hawking ensures that milk sold to consumers meets proper safety and quality standards.

He revealed that the ministry has launched a nationwide crackdown on unlawful milk importers and hawkers who have been distributing unsafe and unregulated products. According to Kagwe, some of the imported milk was unfit for consumption and had caused health complications, particularly among children.

“We want to warn those unlawful importers of milk powder into the country that we have noticed what they are doing and we will make them stop,” Kagwe stated.

He added that the decision to ban hawking followed complaints from mothers whose children had fallen ill after consuming unsafe milk. “That is why we also banned the concept of milk hawking because mothers started complaining that their children were getting diarrhoea and other illnesses. The milk industry should be properly regulated,” he said.

Milk powder is dehydrated milk with most of its water removed, making it non-perishable and often used in cooking, baking, and products such as infant formula. Before the ban, Kenya imported milk powder from Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, and Oman.

The announcement follows a recent statement by the CS indicating that the government will roll out a Good Quality Milk Certification Programme to reward farmers based on the quality of milk they produce. Kagwe said farmers who deliver high-quality milk will earn premium payments, while those supplying substandard milk will receive less.

According to the CS, aflatoxin-contaminated animal feeds, especially maize-based feeds, are a major cause of poor-quality milk in the market. “Toxins from contaminated feeds pass directly into the milk, making it unfit for consumption,” he said.

“We must all produce good quality milk, and the farmer must be recognised for doing the right thing. It cannot be the same amount for bad and good. Those who produce better will earn better,” Kagwe emphasised.

The government’s decision is expected to have a significant impact on both farmers and the wider economy. For local dairy farmers, the move provides much-needed relief, particularly during seasons of surplus production when prices tend to drop. By restricting imported milk powder, the government seeks to stabilise local prices and ensure farmers receive fair returns for their produce.

Kagwe also noted that the ban will safeguard public health by eliminating unsafe, unregulated milk from the market. Economically, the policy aims to strengthen Kenya’s dairy sector, one of the most vital in the agricultural industry. By promoting local processing and improving quality standards, the government hopes to enhance domestic production capacity and encourage value addition.

When reached for comment, the Chairman of the Kenya Dairy Board, Hon. Genesio Mugo, welcomed the move, describing it as “phenomenal and a step in the right direction that safeguards the welfare of dairy farmers across the country.”