PS Mueke Commissions Milk Cooler in Kiambu Under DVCSP Phase II

On July 1, 2025, Principal Secretary for Livestock Development Jonathan Mueke delivered a 5,000-litre Kiambu milk cooler to the Ndarugu Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society in Kiambu County, as part of Phase II of the Dairy Value Chain Support Programme (DVCSP). This initiative, reaching 230 cooperatives across 40 counties, strengthens sustainable agriculture in Kenya by improving milk quality and reducing waste.

Mueke shared on X, “By investing in infrastructure like bulk milk coolers, the government is improving milk quality, aggregation, and market access,” highlighting the program’s environmental and economic goals.

Kenya’s dairy sector, contributing 4% to GDP and supporting over 2 million livelihoods, produces 4.6 billion litres of milk annually. Kiambu County, with 430 million litres yearly, is the nation’s dairy leader.

The Kiambu milk cooler enables Ndarugu Co-op, with its 1,200 members, to store milk longer, minimize spoilage, and meet high-quality standards, aligning with sustainable practices.

Mueke noted, “These installations are more than just equipment; they serve as drivers of rural economic activity, value addition, and employment.”

The DVCSP builds on Phase I (2017–2022), which distributed 350 coolers across 38 counties, increasing cooperatives’ capacity and reducing losses by 15%, according to the Kenya Dairy Board. Phase II expands to 40 counties, deploying coolers from 1,000 to 10,000 litres. The Kiambu milk cooler, tailored for Ndarugu, supports the cooperative’s role in supplying processors like New KCC, which reported a 10% rise in milk intake from Kiambu in 2024. Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, present at the handover, stated, “This cooler will reduce waste and boost our farmers’ competitiveness,” as reported by The Star on July 2, 2025.

Kiambu’s dairy sector has benefited from prior investments, including a 1,000-litre-per-hour pasteurizer in 2021 and a 3,000-litre cooler for Lari Dairy Co-op in 2022. These efforts cut spoilage losses, previously costing farmers Ksh 100 million annually. The Kiambu milk cooler enhances these gains, supporting sustainable agriculture in Kenya by ensuring efficient milk aggregation. Mueke urged all beneficiary cooperatives to adopt sustainable practices to maximize the utility and profitability of the coolers.

The initiative aligns with Kenya’s national food security goals, with dairy playing a key role in nutrition. The newly installed Kiambu milk cooler enables Ndarugu Co-operative to store milk for longer while maintaining quality—positioning the co-op to meet stringent EU standards for potential exports. Posts on X, celebrated the handover, with @DairyKiambu noting, “This cooler will help us deliver fresher milk to markets!” Backed by the World Bank and implemented through the NAVCDP, the government’s investment also includes training to ensure proper maintenance and long-term sustainability of the cooler.