Meru Dairy Union Emerges as Kenya's Leading Dairy Processor

The Meru Central Dairy Cooperative Union, based near Meru Town, has established itself as the largest dairy processor in Kenya. The union processes 640,000 liters of milk daily, sourced from more than 100,000 farmers, primarily concentrated in the Imenti region. Farmers are paid 50 Kenyan Shillings per liter, a competitive rate in the country.

Meru Deputy Governor Linda Kiome-Gitonga highlighted the union's impressive annual revenues of 24 billion Kenyan Shillings, surpassing the Meru county government's budget. The union's growth is further supported by the government's contribution of 200 million Kenyan Shillings towards the construction of the Meru Maziwa Millers, a dairy feed factory in Mitunguu aimed at reducing feed costs.

The new dairy feed facility is expected to start with a manufacturing capacity of 10,000 tonnes, producing enough to load approximately 20 lorries of feed per day. This development is part of a broader effort to empower local farmers by providing affordable, high-quality feeds, which constitute a significant portion of production costs.

Meru Dairy Union's history dates back to its founding in 1967 by three cooperative societies. Its product range includes butter, fermented milk, ghee, cream, and pasteurized fresh milk. Over the years, the union has invested in expanding its processing capabilities, including a recent production line upgrade costing over 200 million Kenyan Shillings.

President William Ruto has praised the union's achievements and pledged further government support. The union's CEO, Kenneth Gitonga, has also been recognized for his leadership, appointed to the board of the Nairobi Coffee Exchange to leverage his success in the dairy sector.