Although the past decade has seen rapid economic growth, issues such as food security and access to adequate nutrition remain key challenges in Kenya. Data from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) puts malnutrition levels at 29% for children in rural areas. In Kenya’s urban areas, 20% of children are considered stunted1, meaning they have a low height for their age. At the same time, country-wide figures from UNICEF show that about 1.13 million children of primary school age (6 to 13 years old) do not attend school.2
According to the Kenya Dairy Board, there are an estimated 1.8 million smallholder dairy farmers in the country, producing 4.6 billion litres of milk per annum. However, 80% of the total milk production is still carried out by smallholder farms that lack access to processing and formal, commercial markets. The dairy sector is also suffering from poor milk quality and low productivity, with an average daily yield of only 7 – 9 litres per cow.
Addressing childhood nutrition and school attendance
Around the world, school milk programmes (SMPs) have demonstrated that they improve school attendance and childhood nutrition while supporting the local dairy value chain. Inspired by success stories around the world, Kenya’s local County Governments began working in collaboration with the Kenya Dairy Board, along with local dairy processors, launching the country’s school milk programme initiative back in 2012.
Building upon previous success, renewed efforts in 2024 are focussed on expanding Kenya’s school milk programme to five additional counties to serve the needs of approximately 144,000 additional children. As with previous and existing school milk initiatives, the objectives are to address malnutrition and school enrolment rates while providing farmers with access to commercial markets for their milk.
The initiative for 2024 launched SMPs in the following four counties:
Machakos County: 21,000 children in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres
Kimabu County: 38,000 children in ECDE centres
Fafi Constituency, Garissa County: 4,000 children in ECDE centres
Trans-Nzoia county: 41,000 children in ECDE centres
Uasin Gishu County: 40,000 children ECDE centres
The following local dairy processors and Tetra Pak customers are participating in the expanded scheme: New KCC, Githunguri Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society, Uplands, and Enkanasa Cow.
To ensure both food safety and nutrition, the programme provides UHT milk in Tetra Classic® Aseptic 200 ml packages. Aseptic packaging can be stored and distributed without the need for refrigeration.
Tetra Pak Food for Development are providing technical assistance and training to the smallholder farmers.
Increased enrolment and access to safe nutrition
The data from Kenya’s previously established school milk programme has shown significant results. For example, in Nairobi County, schools with milk programmes have experienced an increase in enrolment of up to 55% compared to schools without SMPs. Since the establishment of SMPs, average enrolment has increased by 20% in Meru County, 25% in Mombasa County and 14% in Embu County.
Further results from the expansion of the programme include:
In Fafi Constituency, Garissa County, where students receive milk three days per week, attendance rates are 100% on milk days, compared with 90% on non-milk days. There are also fewer absences due to problems associated with ill health. Since the launch of the programme at the start of the term, overall enrolment has increased from 4,818 to 5,612. This means that 794 new learners have joined the ECDE centres in the constituency.
These results suggest that the milk programme enhances the participation, retention and transition of learners from homeschooling to formal schools, along with improving their health and nutrition.
Meanwhile in Trans-Nzoia county, where 41,000 students fall under the expanded SMP, attendance rates on milk days are 98% vs just 70% on non-milk days. The results are increased enrolment, improved attendance and improved health.
This information comes from the Kenya Dairy Board, which is currently working with county governments to further measure the impact of the new school milk programmes that began in 2024.
Supporting health, education and the dairy sector
The excellent results of Kenya’s school milk programmes mean there is the potential for scaling up to include more counties. Increased school enrolment and improved childhood nutrition across the nation contribute to improved education and nutrition for the broader population.
“School milk programmes play a crucial role in ensuring that children receive the essential nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Investing in school milk programmes is an investment in the future of our children, fostering not only physical health but also cognitive development. Access to milk in schools has been linked to improved attendance rates and concentration levels among students, highlighting its positive impact on academic performance,” says Margaret Kibogy, Managing Director, of the Kenya Dairy Board.
The consumption of milk and dairy products will also increase in the long term and help the local dairy sector grow. The growth of these programmes demonstrates a great potential to support the education and development of the entire dairy value chain from smallholder dairy farmers to local processors.
1 https://www.wfp.org/countries/kenya#:~:text=Malnutrition%20remains%20unacceptably%20high%2C%20with,status%20undermined%20by%20their%20condition.
2 https://www.unicef.org/kenya/stories/hope-children-who-dropped-out-school#:~:text=According%20to%20UNICEF%2C%20approximately%201.13,in%20school%20across%20the%20country.