Kenya’s milk market is dominated by a handful of major processors, but the people and institutions behind the brands on supermarket shelves vary widely, from the Kenyatta family and international investors to thousands of dairy farmers and the Government of Kenya.
Some of the country’s best-known milk brands are also part of larger companies, so consumers may buy products from the same corporate group without necessarily knowing it.
Brookside Dairy, New KCC, Githunguri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society and Meru Central Dairy Cooperative Union are among the major players in Kenya’s dairy industry.
Brookside Owned by the Kenyatta Family
Brookside Dairy is a prominent milk processor associated with the Kenyatta family.
The company was established in 1993 and grew from a relatively small dairy operation into a major regional processor through expansion and acquisitions.
The company’s headquarters and main operations are in Ruiru, Kiambu County, along Thika Road
The Kenyatta family holds about 50 percent of Brookside Africa, while French dairy giant Danone holds 40 percent. The Dubai-based private equity firm Abraaj Group historically held the remaining 10 percent.
Danone acquired its 40 per cent stake in Brookside in 2014 in a deal that brought the multinational into the Kenyan dairy business.
Kenyatta family involvement in the company is closely tied to Muhoho Kenyatta, who has served as Brookside’s executive chairman and been a key figure in the family’s business interests.
Brookside has also expanded its portfolio through acquisitions. Its brands have included Brookside, Tuzo, Ilara, Molo Milk and Delamere. The company acquired Buzeki Dairy, the producer of Molo Milk, for about Sh1.1 billion in 2013, while earlier acquisitions brought brands such as Ilara, Tuzo and Delamere into its portfolio.
Also Read: The Story Behind Brookside Dairy and the Kenyatta Family’s Business Empire
New KCC
New Kenya Co-operative Creameries (New KCC) has one of the oldest and most recognizable names in Kenya’s dairy industry.
According to the company, its headquarters are in the Dakar Road Industrial Area, and it has factories and cooling plants in different parts of the country.
Unlike Brookside, New KCC is not controlled by a private family or individual but is a state-owned enterprise.
The company traces its history to Kenya Co-operative Creameries, established in the early years of Kenya’s dairy industry, before the business was later restructured into New KCC.
New KCC produces a range of dairy products under brands including KCC Fresh Milk, KCC UHT Long Life Milk, KCC Mala and Gold Crown.
Fresha
Githunguri Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society, which produces the Fresha brand, is based in Githunguri Town, Kiambu County.
The company’s headquarters and processing plant are located along the Githunguri-Kiambu Road in Karungu.
Githunguri Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society, founded in 1961 by 31 small-scale farmers, produces Fresha.
The cooperative says its membership has since grown to 27,492 farmers, and the cooperative is owned by its farmer members, who supply milk and participate in the organization.
Githunguri commissioned its processing plant in 2004, giving rise to the Fresha brand. It now produces fresh milk, long-life milk, fermented milk, yogurt, butter, ghee and cream, among other products.
Also Read: Govt Explains Current Milk Shortage in Kenya
Mount Kenya Milk
Mount Kenya Milk is produced by Meru Central Dairy Co-operative Union, a farmer-owned dairy organization based in Meru County, and the union’s headquarters are on KPCU Road in Meru,
The brand is produced by Meru Central Dairy Co-operative Union, which was established in 1967 by three cooperative societies to help farmers collectively market their milk.
The union is owned by dairy farmers rather than an individual wealthy investor. A livestock-sector document describes Meru Union as an umbrella dairy society solely owned by farmers in Meru County and surrounding areas.
Meru Dairy’s own website identifies the organization as the processor of Mount Kenya Milk products. Its portfolio includes fresh milk, yogurt, lala, and ghee.
The cooperative says it works with a large network of farmers and has expanded its milk-processing capacity significantly over the years.
Kinangop Dairy
Kinangop Dairy Limited is based at Ndunyu Njeru in North Kinangop, Nyandarua County, at the foothills of the Aberdares.
Kinangop Dairy Limited is linked to Muki Farmers Cooperative Society, Muki Investment Cooperative Society and individual shareholders.
Muki Farmers Cooperative says it has more than 22,000 registered members, and its farmers market milk through Kinangop Dairy. It describes Kinangop Dairy as a joint venture in which Muki Farmers Cooperative, through Muki Investment Cooperative Society, holds shares alongside individual members.
Kinangop Dairy was founded in 1999, with Livingstone Ndung’u Waithaka credited with establishing the business.
Its brands include Kinangop, Kinangop Gold and 4us, while its product range includes fresh milk, UHT milk, long-life milk, yogurt, lala, ghee and cream.
The company credits the late Livingstone Ndung’u Waithaka with establishing the business
Daima
Sameer Agriculture says it is a joint venture between Sameer Group and Rj Corp of India
Sameer Group says Sameer Agriculture is a joint venture between Sameer Group and RJ Corp of India. The company produces fresh milk, flavored milk, ice cream, skimmed milk powder, fermented milk, and other products.
The Sameer business interests are associated with the Sameer Group, founded by businessman Naushad Merali, who died in 2021.
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