PS Mueke Clarifies Buffalo Breed Kenya Plans to Import From India

Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke has clarified that the government will not go target wild buffaloes in national parks to address the milk shortage in the county. 

Speaking on Tuesday October 13, PS Mueke said the government plans to import domesticated buffaloes formerly known as water buffaloes. 

The Livestock Development PS said they are specifically looking for the Murrah breed from India. 

“We are not going for the wild buffalo that are out in the national park. 

“This is a domesticated buffalo formerly known as a water buffalo, and the specific breed we are looking at from India is the Murrah breed,” he stated. 

PS Mueke noted that the breed produces highly nutritious milk with a high fat content, making it suitable for manufacturing dairy products with added commercial value.

According to the PS the Murrah milk can be used to produce butter, cheese, yoghurt and ghee. 

“This buffalo produces very high-quality and nutritious milk with a very high fat content almost three times the cow. 

“With this high-quality milk, you are able to make very high-value dairy products such as butter, cheese, yoghurt, and ghee,” he stated. 

This comes days after President William Ruto hinted at exploring buffalo milk amid the ongoing milk shortage in the country.

Speaking on Friday October 9, President Ruto attributed the local shortage to drought but noted that buffaloes and camels produce more milk than domesticated cows.

He claimed that India had already explored the option and directed Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke to look for suitable breeds of buffaloes and camels that would be used to boost milk production in the country.

"We currently have a milk shortage in the country because of the drought and other issues. I told PS Jonathan Mueke to help us source a better camel breed and to bring a good buffalo breed because I hear buffaloes produce a lot of milk.

"In India, they consume buffalo milk, and we wanted to begin with small samples so that we can see whether it is viable because if other people are milking buffaloes, why can't we?" Ruto posed.

On Saturday October 10, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua criticized the plan saying the government should be focusing on increasing the number of dairy cows to boost local milk production instead of exploring to import buffaloes. 

“I heard Ruto yesterday saying that there is no milk and that he will consult with his government on how to bring buffaloes from India so that people can milk them. Is he taking us for fools?” Gachagua posed.

“Instead of increasing the number of cows, you want to bring buffaloes? Can buffaloes really produce milk? Gachagua posed.