Losing his Ward Representative seat in the 2022 General Election became an eye-opener for Haron Kirui, sparking his interest in the dairy industry.
An accountant by profession, Kirui first ventured into politics in 2017, winning the Silibwet Township civic ward in Bomet East Constituency. After losing the seat after one term, he returned to his profession while quietly nurturing a dairy enterprise that has grown steadily.
Haroun Kirui, digs holes for the planting of napier grass at his Kapsimotwo farm, Bomet Central constituency for his dairy herd in this photo taken on February 22, 2026
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
Recently, he was competitively recruited as Bomet County Chief Officer for Lands, Urban and Town Planning, but was later transferred to the Public Service docket, returning him to formal employment while running the dairy business as a side venture.
“As a civic leader, I had four dairy cows, whose milk was mainly used at home for tea with visitors and supporters,” Kirui told Seeds of Gold . “I hadn’t realised I could turn this subsistence activity into a profitable enterprise. After losing the election, I knew dairy farming offered a steady income. Milk is produced and sold for cash the same day.”
Haroun Kirui, at his maize plantation whose produce is used to make silage for his dairy cows, in this photo taken on February 22, 2026 at Kapsimotwo village, Bomet County.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
When he received his gratuity, Kirui invested in dairy expansion. He sold two cows and purchased four pedigree in-calf cows—two Fresian cows from Githunguri at Sh250,000 each and two from Kinangop at Sh180,000 each—bringing his herd to six, alongside his two Ayrshire cows used for domestic consumption.
Haroun Kirui
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
“From the free-range system I was used to, milk quantity and quality improved remarkably,” Kirui said. A cow previously producing 12 litres a day rose to 20 litres, and his herd now averages 35 litres daily, milked three times a day. He uses Artificial Insemination with sexed semen to ensure heifer calves, selling male calves and some in-calf cows to maintain the herd. Initially supplying hotels, he shifted to a cooperative and later opened Kiputany Dairies in Bomet town for direct retail. His wife, Winny, produces at least 30 litres of mursik daily, catering to high local demand for both households and functions.
