Three Kenyan counties—Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, and Nyandarua—have teamed up to launch a new initiative aimed at improving the informal dairy sector. The program, called More Milk for Lives and Livelihoods 2 (MoreMilk 2), is led by the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
Between March 25 and April 2, 2025, officials from MoreMilk 2 held technical meetings with county leaders and stakeholders to design a plan that fits each county’s needs. The goal is to make informal milk markets safer, more inclusive, and more profitable for farmers, vendors, and consumers.
MoreMilk 2 builds on a successful pilot in Eldoret and focuses on supporting—not criminalizing—informal milk vendors, who supply over 70% of milk consumed by household in Kenya. The initiative aims to provide training, business skills, and certification programs to improve milk safety and vendor livelihoods.
“We must work with informal vendors, not against them,” said Maritim Kimutai, KDB Director of Regulatory Services. County leaders echoed this sentiment, saying the initiative aligns with their efforts to support and train local milk vendors.
The program also includes elements like climate resilience, gender inclusion, and stronger links between research, policy, and on-the-ground practices. Next steps include continued county engagement, rolling out vendor training, and setting up safe milk market hubs.
