Meru County Governor, H.E. Rev. Isaac Mutuma M’Ethingia, hosted a high-level delegation from Murang’a County led by Governor Dr. Irungu Kang’ata on a benchmarking mission focused on the dairy sector.

The team was guided by Mr. Kenneth Gitonga, CEO of Meru Dairy Co-operative Union - a flagship example of how cooperative models can transform agricultural value chains. Meru, famously known as the home of cooperatives, takes pride in the remarkable growth of Meru Dairy. Since its establishment in 1967, the union has steadily expanded to command 31% of Kenya’s national market share.

During the visit, both counties exchanged insights on strengthening partnerships, enhancing efficiency, and positioning dairy as a competitive business rather than a social service. The success of the Meru Dairy model has been anchored on consistent farmer payments, investment in modern infrastructure, insurance coverage for farmers, and strong value addition initiatives.

Looking to the future, Meru Dairy has set ambitious goals, including:

• Raising cow productivity from the current 5 litres to at least 20 litres per day.

• Expanding product lines to include butter, cheese, and confectioneries.

• Exploring export opportunities in West and Central Africa.

• Establishing a state-of-the-art feed mill.

• Investing in renewable energy solutions.

• Enhancing access to quality breeding and semen services.

As Meru proudly welcomed the Murang’a delegation to a county full of untapped potential, the spirit of mutual learning was evident. With visionary leadership and strong cooperative unions, counties can drive rural development and position cooperatives to outpace even private sector players in transforming Kenya’s milk industry.

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