Kenya's dairy policy, Dairy Master Plan and dairy rules
Kenya Dairy Board / State Department for Livestock Development · sources read 4 Oct 2026
Kenya's dairy sector runs on the Dairy Industry Act (Cap. 336), the Dairy Industry (Registration, Licensing, Cess and Levy) Regulations 2021, and the National Dairy Development Policy (Sessional Paper No. 5 of 2013). You can download these, plus the two-volume National Dairy Master Plan, free from the Kenya Dairy Board and Ministry websites.
- Where
- Documents: kdb.go.ke (Resources > Policies, Laws & Regulations) and kilimo.go.ke (Livestock page). Farmer registration: your county livestock department. Regulatory permits: Kenya Dairy Board.
Steps
- Download the Dairy Industry Act, the 2021 Regulations and the National Dairy Development Policy from the Kenya Dairy Board's 'Policies, Laws & Regulations' page.
- For the National Dairy Master Plan, download both volumes (situational analysis, and strategies and action plans) from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development website.
- If you are a dairy farmer, register once with your county livestock department using Form A. It is free, and a cooperative can register its members for you.
- If you run a dairy business, get a Kenya Dairy Board regulatory permit first. The county will only consider your dairy business licence once you hold it.
Watch out
- The National Dairy Master Plan on the Ministry site was printed in August 2010, so its figures are old. The 2013 dairy policy is newer.
- The Dairy Industry Bill 2023 proposes to repeal Cap. 336. It is a bill, so check whether it has become law before relying on it.
- A farmer who only sells milk to a neighbour for home use does not need to register.
Who this covers
- The 2021 Regulations apply to dairy farmers (primary producers), who register with their county, and to dairy businesses such as milk bars and processors.
Official sources (8)
- Policies, Laws & Regulations kdb.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Sessional Paper No. 5 of 2013 on the National Dairy Development Policy kdb.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Dairy Industry (Registration, Licensing, Cess and Levy) Regulations, 2021 (L.N. 16 of 2021) kdb.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Dairy Industry Act, Cap. 336 (Revised Edition 2012) kdb.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Livestock (policies, bills and regulations) kilimo.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Kenya National Dairy Master Plan, Volume I: Situational Analysis kilimo.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Kenya National Dairy Master Plan, Volume II: Strategies and Action Plans kilimo.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- The Dairy Industry Bill, 2023 kilimo.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026