Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba has raised fresh concerns regarding Kenya’s dairy supply chain, alleging that major retail outlets across Central Kenya and Nairobi have begun restricting consumer milk purchases amid mounting market pressures.
In a social media statement, the lawmaker publicly questioned official government positions indicating stable national production, pointing to reported supply constraints in key urban markets.
“We can’t buy more than two packets of milk in any supermarket in Nairobi, Kiambu, and Murang’a. I heard the President say milk is in plenty in the country. Where is it available in plenty? Or maybe the message was for tourists and international visitors,” Wamuchomba posted.
The legislator further claimed that local milk production in Githunguri—one of the country’s leading dairy processing hubs—suffered significant hits earlier in the year, attributing reduced farm yields to livestock health challenges.
“I can confirm we have reduced production from Githunguri, largely because our cows died massively early this year due to a lack or shortage of vaccinations,” she alleged.
While consumers in several urban centers report sporadic availability and fluctuating retail prices, official regulators maintain a different stance. The Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) and the Ministry of Agriculture attribute current collection drops to seasonal weather variations and fodder availability rather than structural livestock mortality. Official data shows formal milk collections fell slightly in recent months, prompting state interventions to cushion animal feed costs and manage temporary supply dips.
Market analysts note that while temporary logistical delays and regional demand spikes occasionally affect retail shelf stocks, widespread systematic rationing has not been formally declared by major supermarket chains.