Brookside Dairy, owned by Kenya’s Kenyatta family, pays farmers $2 million

Kenya’s largest milk processor, Brookside Dairy, which is majority-owned by the Kenyatta family, led by matriarch Mama Ngina Kenyatta, paid KSh255 million ($2 million) to contracted producers in the six months to May 2026 under a long-running incentive program that rewards both volume and quality.

The payout comes in addition to regular monthly payments for milk deliveries and is linked to targets aimed at improving hygiene standards, stabilizing output, and meeting defined quality thresholds. The company said the scheme is designed to cut milk rejections at factory intake while strengthening supply reliability across its network of cooperatives and individual farmers. 

Emmanuel Kabaki, Brookside’s general manager for milk procurement, said the incentive program, now in its seventh year, is designed to encourage farmers to adopt practices that lift earnings and milk quality. He noted that producers investing in improved feed, cleaner handling and stronger animal care typically record fewer rejected deliveries and reduced veterinary costs.

Stable dairy supply chain focus

“We are working with farmers to build a more stable dairy supply chain, where quality is rewarded and consumers get consistent products,” Kabaki said in Kitale. He added that the company is also encouraging cooperative groups to tighten internal controls so they can improve collection efficiency and negotiate better outcomes for their members.

Unlike traditional payment models that focus mainly on volume, Brookside places emphasis on milk composition, including protein and butterfat levels. This approach gives farmers a clearer path to higher earnings while also aligning local production standards with regional and export requirements. Kabaki also encouraged farmers to conserve fodder for dry seasons, noting that feed shortages remain one of the main causes of fluctuating output across Kenya’s dairy belt.

Brookside has also been exposing farmers to best practices beyond Kenya’s borders. In recent months, the company organized a training visit to South Africa for selected producers as part of efforts to introduce more efficient dairy farming techniques and farm management practices.

Regional dairy footprint across East Africa

Founded in 1993, Brookside produces fresh milk, yoghurt and butter across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and accounts for a significant share of Kenya’s processed milk market. The company has expanded its regional footprint over time through acquisitions, including the purchase of Uganda’s Sameer Agriculture and Livestock Ltd. in 2015.

The Kenyatta family remains Brookside’s largest shareholder with a 50 percent stake, alongside other investors, including France’s Danone, which took a minority position more than a decade ago. The family, led by matriarch Mama Ngina Kenyatta, has long held interests across agriculture, banking, real estate, media and hospitality, with holdings that include a stake in NCBA Group and Mediamax Network Ltd., which operates K24 TV and The People Daily.