A Ksh22 million milk processing factory has been constructed in Makueni County, giving the much-needed shot in the arm for the semi-arid regional economy. The Masimba Milk Plant, located in Emali area at the border of Makueni and Kajiado counties, has stimulated dairy farming in the area with a number of residents supplying milk to the factory.

The factory has been constructed by the County Government of Kajiado and funded by the New Zealand government through ChildFund Kenya, directly benefitting 2,500 people including farmers, children, lactating and pregnant women as well as providing employment opportunities for over 5,000 people. ChildFund Kenya Country Director Chege Ngugi says Masimba factory is equipped with milk processing equipment, milk handling food grade Mazzicans and aluminum cans, cold-storage facility for finished products, backup generator and laboratory.

The milk plant is operated by the Emali Dedicated Children’s Agency (EDCA) under the four-year Agriculture, Dairy and Economic Development (ADED) project. It was commissioned in 2017 to empower vulnerable farming communities in Emali and Kajiado to enhance their economic and financial resilience.

“ADED intervenes in two major value chains of moringa and dairy because of their immense nutritional benefits to children especially orphans, vulnerable and malnourished children,” Ngugi said during the launch of the factory on Tuesday.

The project is a partnership between the Government of New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, county government of Kajiado and local cooperative societies.

Another milk cooling plant has also been established at Sultan Hamud under the programme, backed by three milk collection points/centres for milk aggregation. Mr Ngugi said more than 257,000kg of milk have been sold since August 2020 and Ksh9.252 million paid to the dairy farmers. Eight farmers have been supported with improved in-calf heifers to showcase adaptability of improved breeds for increased milk production.

Speaking via video, the Manager, Industry and Innovation at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) Gareth Smith said as a farmers son he was thrilled to be part of the launch. “ This project is a good example of where we align our expertise in climate-smart agriculture with a genuine area of community need.”

Already, two farmers’ cooperative societies – SAMLI Dairy Farmers’ Cooperative Society and EMUKA Moringa Farmers’ Cooperative Society – have been established to oversee the production and marketing of milk and milk products as well as moringa.

The launch was attended by County Government of Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku Managing Director Kenya Dairy Board Margaret Kibogy, CECs, local leaders and ChildFund Kenya staff.