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Empowering women could unlock Kenya’s dairy sector
Nancy Rapando, lead researcher at AfriCCLAN, during the launch of the Women in Dairy report at the 2026 World Farmers Organisation (WFO) General Assembly in Nairobi on June 10, 2026.
A new report has cited the lack of land and cattle ownership among women as one of the main factors holding back the growth of Kenya’s dairy industry, even though women provide most of the labour and control a significant proportion of dairy income.
The first national study of women in Kenya’s dairy sector found that only 23 per cent of women in the five main milk-producing counties — Kiambu, Nakuru, Meru, Uasin Gishu and Nyandarua — own land in their own names, and just 19 per cent have documented ownership of cattle. These findings are based on a survey of 129 women dairy farmers across the five counties.
Commissioned by the Kenya National Farmers Federation (KENAFF) and conducted by the Africa Centre for Climate, Agri-Food and Nature (AfriCCLAN), in partnership with the US Dairy Export Council (USDEC), the report reveals a striking contradiction in the sector. While women provide over 70 per cent of the labour force, account for 86 per cent of cooperative memberships, and control an average of 82 per cent of dairy income, ownership of productive assets remains predominantly male-dominated.
“Women contribute over 70 per cent of labour in the industry, control 82 per cent of dairy income, and are represented at 86 per cent in cooperatives. Regrettably, structural power remains concentrated elsewhere. Men still dominate land and cattle ownership,” said Nancy Rapando, the lead study expert from AfriCCLAN, during the report's release at the 2026 World Farmers' Organisation (WFO) General Assembly in Nairobi. The event was held from 8 to 11 June.
A total of 65 per cent of respondents cited a lack of collateral as the main barrier to accessing credit, primarily because financial institutions continue to rely on land titles when evaluating loan applications. The report warns that limited ownership of land and livestock restricts women’s ability to invest in improved breeds, feeds, housing, and other technologies that enhance productivity.
As farming is still largely considered an informal activity, many financial institutions are reluctant to extend credit to farmers due to the perceived risk of loan defaults. In addition, lengthy loan application procedures continue to hinder the growth and expansion of the agricultural sector.
Kenya’s dairy sector is valued at over Sh230 billion annually and contributes around 14 per cent to the country’s agricultural GDP, supporting more than 1.8 million smallholder households. Kenya is currently Africa’s second-largest milk producer, with an annual production of approximately 5.5 million tonnes.
“Women are at the heart of this sector. However, many continue to face systemic exclusion from ownership, leadership, and financial decision-making,' said Ms Rapando.
Apart from these structural challenges, the report ‘Women in Kenya’s Dairy Sector’ highlights progress and untapped potential in women’s participation in the dairy value chain.
Women dominate dairy cooperative membership, accounting for 86 per cent of those surveyed, and 73 per cent reported marketing their milk through cooperatives. According to the study, this collective model has enabled many women to access more stable markets, better prices and bundled services such as extension advice and savings facilities.
Nevertheless, leadership remains a weak link. Fewer than 30 per cent of women hold leadership positions in dairy cooperatives, even though they make up the overwhelming majority of members.
On the other hand, Meru stood out for its growing youth participation, with women dairy farmers having an average age of 38.7 years. This is in contrast to the average age of a farmer in Kenya, which is over 60 years old. The county is transitioning towards a formalised milk market, which is supported by youth-focused development programmes.
Josphine Kirui feeds her dairy cows at Tegat Farm in Elburgon, Nakuru County.
In Uasin Gishu, women farmers are adopting innovations such as biogas systems, silage production and improved breeding technologies, indicating a gradual uptake of technology.
Despite having a strong cooperative culture, Nyandarua recorded lower levels of women’s asset ownership, particularly land ownership. This continues to constrain investment and scaling.
In an interview with Seeds of Gold, Valery Otieno, Technical Lead for Women and Youth in Agriculture at KENAFF, described the report as a turning point in our understanding of women’s role in dairy farming:
“This report is a stepping stone. It shows both the achievements and the gaps that still exist,” she said. “Women have always been at the forefront of dairy production, making up around 80 per cent of the labour force in the sector, even though the agricultural and livestock sector is facing challenges, including the effects of climate change,” Ms Otieno added.
She noted that women already dominate cooperative membership, accounting for around 83 per cent, yet their influence in decision-making structures remains limited. “What we are now looking at is moving from recognition to action. We must identify practical interventions that enhance women’s participation and influence in the dairy sector,’ she explained.
Speaking at the official launch of the report, Krysta Harden, President and CEO of the US Dairy Export Council, called for greater investment in women and young people in agriculture, emphasising that their inclusion is essential for global food security. “If women produce half of the food we consume, then we need to empower them,” she said. 'We must encourage young people and women to enter the agricultural sector and ensure they have the necessary resources and opportunities to succeed.'
The study also highlights various market-related issues that affect women dairy farmers. More than 85 per cent of respondents cited low prices as the most serious challenge, followed by a lack of market information, high transport costs, post-harvest losses and delayed payments. These challenges exacerbate the vulnerability of female producers in fragmented milk markets, where intermediaries and brokers frequently dominate pricing structures.
Limited access to market intelligence also weakens women’s bargaining power, forcing many to rely on informal buyers despite the lower returns this entails.
To address these issues, the report recommends joint land titling for spouses, recognising livestock and milk delivery records as alternative collateral, expanding women-targeted extension services and introducing minimum leadership quotas within cooperatives.
Speaking at the official opening of the World Farmers' Organisation General Assembly, which was themed “Future Fields: Investing in Farmers’ Organisations and Empowering Communities for Sustainable Agriculture”, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe, said that many of the challenges facing farmers, including access to financing, markets and information, could be more effectively addressed if producers were better organised. “We need to rethink agricultural financing, and this can easily be achieved by uniting farmers with key stakeholders who are eager to support the sector,” he said, urging farmers to join and bolster producer organisations.
Kenya’s agricultural sector comprises an estimated 7.8 million farmers, but only around 1.4 million are currently organised under KENAFF. This organisation operates through 49 commodity-based associations, covering key value chains such as coffee, tea, potatoes, and cereals.
The report also calls for gender-responsive policies at the county and national levels, as well as stronger financial inclusion models tailored to women farmers.
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