Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke has clarified the type of buffalo the government plans to import from India for milk production, dismissing concerns that the animals could be the wild buffaloes found in national parks.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Mueke explained that the government is targeting the domesticated water buffalo, specifically the Murrah breed, which is renowned for its high milk production and rich nutritional content.
“We are not going for the wild buffalo that are out in the national park. This is a domesticated buffalo formerly known as a water buffalo, and the specific breed we are looking at from India is the Murrah breed,” Mueke said.
The PS noted that the Murrah buffalo produces high-quality milk with a high fat content, making it suitable for manufacturing premium dairy products.
According to Mueke, the milk can be used to produce a variety of value-added products, including butter, cheese, yoghurt and ghee, potentially creating new business opportunities for farmers and dairy processors.
“This buffalo produces very high-quality and nutritious milk with a very high fat content. With this high-quality milk, you are able to make very high-value dairy products such as butter, cheese, yoghurt, and ghee,” he added.
The clarification comes after Mueke revealed that the government intends to import the animals initially for research on government farms before considering introducing them to private farmers.
The research phase is expected to help livestock experts understand the animals’ feeding patterns, husbandry requirements and adaptability to Kenyan conditions before any wider rollout.
If successful, the initiative could offer farmers another option in the dairy sector while opening up opportunities for the production of high-value dairy products.
