• Kenya bans powdered milk imports to protect local dairy industry
• Imports totaled $36M in 2023, mostly from Uganda, USDA reports
• Government targets 10M tons milk output by 2032 under new roadmap

Kenya has banned imports of powdered milk with immediate effect, the state-run Kenya News Agency reported on Oct. 31, citing Agriculture Minister Mutahi Kagwe.

The minister said the decision aims to protect local dairy farmers from unfair competition, particularly from producers in neighboring countries, while ensuring domestic demand is met amid population growth.

According to a 2024 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Kenya imported about $85.3 million worth of dairy products in 2023, of which 42 percent,roughly $36 million,was whole and skimmed milk powder. Uganda was the country’s top supplier, far ahead of the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and Germany.

Beyond its protectionist intent, the move is also meant to boost domestic production, which has expanded steadily in recent years. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics show milk output rose 30 percent from 4 million tons in 2020 to 5.28 million tons in 2023. Provisional 2024 estimates place production at around 5.33 million tons.

Under its Dairy Industry Sustainability Roadmap launched in 2023, the government aims to double milk production to 10 million tons by 2032. To achieve this, it plans to improve cold-chain and storage infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and support output growth. The local industry reported losing 290,000 tons of fresh milk in 2023, a 50 percent increase from 2022 and the highest level in four years.

Stéphanas Assocle