Updated 26 October 2026
Meru is Kenya’s top milk-producing county. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) National Agriculture Production Report 2025, Meru produced about 479 million kg of milk in 2024, just ahead of Uasin Gishu at about 463 million kg. Kiambu, Nakuru and Nyandarua complete the top five.
Below are the official top 10 counties, the national figures they sit within, and a few things the numbers do and do not tell you. The milk data comes from the Kenya Dairy Board and the State Department for Livestock Development, and the 2024 figures are provisional.
Kenya’s Milk Production in 2024 at a Glance
Kenya produced 5,334.8 million kg of milk in 2024, up about 1.8% from 5,242.1 million kg in 2023, according to Table 7.9 of the KNBS report. The value of that milk rose faster, by about 12.6%, to KSh 352.1 billion. Over five years, production has grown by about 32% from 4,048 million kg in 2020.
Only a small share of the milk passes through processors. Processors took in 908.4 million kg in 2024, about 17% of total production, worth KSh 45.4 billion. Both the intake volume and its value were up about 12% on 2023. The rest is consumed at home, sold raw to neighbours, hotels and traders, or handled by cooling plants and cooperatives outside the formal processing count.
| Year | Milk production (million kg) | Value (KSh billion) | Intake by processors (million kg) | Intake value (KSh billion) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4,048.0 | 181.6 | 684.4 | 22.7 |
| 2021 | 4,641.0 | 236.7 | 801.9 | 33.7 |
| 2022 | 4,604.0 | 304.8 | 755.3 | 35.7 |
| 2023 | 5,242.1 | 312.7 | 810.7 | 40.5 |
| 2024* | 5,334.8 | 352.1 | 908.4 | 45.4 |
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2025, Table 7.9 (Kenya Dairy Board and State Department for Livestock Development). *Provisional.
Top 10 Milk-Producing Counties in Kenya (2024)
KNBS publishes the county ranking as a chart (Figure 7.20) showing the ten largest producers. The share column is our calculation against the national total of 5,334.8 million kg.
| Rank | County | Milk produced 2024 (million kg) | Share of national output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meru | 479.0 | 9.0% |
| 2 | Uasin Gishu | 462.8 | 8.7% |
| 3 | Kiambu | 368.7 | 6.9% |
| 4 | Nakuru | 314.1 | 5.9% |
| 5 | Nyandarua | 314.0 | 5.9% |
| 6 | Murang’a | 265.2 | 5.0% |
| 7 | Kericho | 226.8 | 4.3% |
| 8 | Trans-Nzoia | 203.2 | 3.8% |
| 9 | Nandi | 197.2 | 3.7% |
| 10 | Kakamega | 193.0 | 3.6% |
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2025, Figure 7.20. Provisional.
Together these ten counties produced about 3,024 million kg, or roughly 57% of Kenya’s milk. The other 37 counties share the remaining 43%.
Which County Produces the Most Milk in Kenya?
Meru, with 479.0 million kg in 2024, about 9% of national output. Uasin Gishu is a close second, 16 million kg behind. Nakuru and Nyandarua are almost level in fourth and fifth place, separated by just 0.1 million kg, so either could be described as the fourth-largest producer depending on rounding and later revisions.
Most Cows Does Not Always Mean Most Milk
The same report lists the counties with the most dairy cattle (Figure 7.2). Nakuru has the largest dairy herd in the country at 472,449 head, followed by Nyandarua (404,400) and Uasin Gishu (356,708). Meru, the top milk producer, has 238,740 dairy cattle, ninth on that list.
| County | Dairy cattle 2024 | Milk rank 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Nakuru | 472,449 | 4 |
| Nyandarua | 404,400 | 5 |
| Uasin Gishu | 356,708 | 2 |
| Bomet | 334,895 | Not in top 10 |
| Murang’a | 332,354 | 6 |
| Kericho | 287,316 | 7 |
| Kiambu | 278,637 | 3 |
| Elgeyo-Marakwet | 273,375 | Not in top 10 |
| Meru | 238,740 | 1 |
| Trans-Nzoia | 213,309 | 8 |
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2025, Figures 7.2 and 7.20.
The report does not break county milk down by type of animal, so the gap is not purely a measure of how productive each dairy cow is. Milk from indigenous cattle and other animals may be counted too. Still, the comparison suggests that counties such as Meru and Kiambu get more milk from each dairy animal than counties with bigger herds, which is where feeding, breed and animal health matter. Nationally, KNBS puts the dairy cattle population at about 5.3 million in 2024, up 3.0% on 2023, which it links to good weather that improved pasture and water.
What the Figures Mean for Dairy Businesses
For processors, feed sellers, vets, cooler operators and lenders, the county ranking shows where the milk is. The low share reaching processors (about one kilogram in six) also shows how much of the market is still informal. The Kenya Dairy Board regulates the sector and licenses businesses that handle milk commercially, such as cooling, transporting, processing and retailing; for offices you can visit, see our full list of Kenya Dairy Board branches and contacts.
Milk supply also swings with the weather, which is why shortages and price jumps hit consumers in dry months. For recent examples, read our reports on the drop in formal milk deliveries during the drought and milk prices during the shortage.
How the Figures Are Collected
KNBS compiles livestock data from the State Department for Livestock Development and the Kenya Dairy Board, with county figures validated by national and county officers during field visits. The 2024 numbers are provisional and may change in the next report. KNBS reports milk in kilograms; a litre of milk weighs slightly more than a kilogram, so the totals are close to, but not exactly the same as, litres. For other county rankings from the same report, see our guides to the top maize-producing counties and the top tea-producing counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which county is the highest milk producer in Kenya?
Meru, with about 479.0 million kg of milk in 2024, followed by Uasin Gishu with about 462.8 million kg.
What are the top 5 milk-producing counties in Kenya?
Meru, Uasin Gishu, Kiambu, Nakuru and Nyandarua, based on KNBS 2024 figures.
How much milk does Kenya produce a year?
About 5,334.8 million kg in 2024, valued at KSh 352.1 billion.
Which county has the most dairy cows in Kenya?
Nakuru, with 472,449 dairy cattle in 2024, followed by Nyandarua and Uasin Gishu.
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