President William Ruto has directed the Kenya Dairy Board to seal all loopholes used by business people to import powdered milk into the country.
Speaking during the commissioning of the modernised Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) in Kiganjo Factory, Nyeri County, Ruto, on Tuesday, August 8, claimed that cartels in the milk industry were taking advantage of the licences issued by the board to import the powdered milk.
He also warned KCC against defending the companies noting that their primary responsibility was to protect the local market.
The Kenya Dairy Board, which is a government regulatory body, is mandated to issue licences to milk dealers, including import permits. It also checks on the standards of milk products in the country.
"For the last couple of years, they have been bringing nearly 100 million litres of powdered milk yearly. They only buy a little from our farmers and then add more powder," Ruto disclosed.
"Going forward, we must protect our local production, and we have put plans in place to ensure that our farmers benefit," he added.
The Head of State asserted that the farmers in the country could be empowered for the companies to produce the milk powder locally.
However, he played cagey over the companies and individuals involved, declining to be roped into a public battle with traders in the milk sector. Nonetheless, he reiterated that the accused companies imported powdered milk through Uganda.
"I do not want to mention any names. I mentioned some countries recently, and I got into some problems," the Head of State, cautious of the sensitivity of the matter, which affects both trade and diplomacy, stated.
On his part, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua indicated that the government was seeking partnerships with other East African Community (EAC) presidents in a crackdown on businessmen importing the powders into Kenya.
"We will sit with our neighbours and tell them that we respect the EAC regulations but we must have an understanding that the milk should be from your farms," he disclosed.
Ruto, during an interview with Inooro TV on Sunday, August 6, divulged that Kenya already reached out to other EAC countries, to discuss how the sector can be regulated.
Gachagua, speaking in Kiganjo, added that they recently overhauled the dairy board, which he claimed was taken captive by state capture.
"In some neighbouring countries, some of the cartels have taken advantage of the EAC treaties. They go and import milk from Europe and then process the powder in the EAC countries before bringing them here," Gachagua stated.
In other similar developments, police seized 16 tonnes of powdered milk being repackaged and rebranded at a warehouse in Eastleigh on Saturday, August 5 as the government enhanced its clampdown in the milk sector.
