Japhet Ruto, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than eight years of experience in finance, business, and technology journalism in Kenya and across the globe.

Kenyan dairy processing company Brookside has announced a cash payout of KSh 303 million to contracted farmers countrywide, giving them a reason to smile.

The amount paid out as part of a reward scheme run by the processor shows a 32% increase compared to last year’s payout of KSh 218 million for the same period.

Emmanuel Kabaki, Brookside's general manager for milk procurement, revealed that the farmers supplied raw milk to the factory between December 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025.

Kabaki explained that the farmers were rewarded for meeting set targets in both the quantity and quality of their milk production.

"After enrolling in our reward programme, the benefiting farmer groups and individual suppliers were given targets for the quantity and quality of their raw milk supply. In appreciation of their efforts over six months, we are rewarding these farmers," Kabaki stated in Kitale, as reported by Business Daily.

Six years ago, Brookside, associated with the Kenyatta family, started the farmer incentive programme, which aims to recognise the vital role raw milk suppliers play in the upstream stage of the dairy value chain

As the processor's network of contracted farmers grows, the payout has been increasing over time.

"The award continues to stand as a testament to our outstanding collaboration with each of our 160,000 raw milk suppliers nationwide. It has increased the availability of premium milk, allowing us to keep delivering top-notch goods to the market," Kabaki explained.

To increase the amounts it receives, Brookside has been implementing a vigorous capacity-building programme for its farmers across raw milk production sheds.

Brookside's extension services, which include field day training and the utilisation of demonstration farms to highlight best practices in the dairy industry, have benefited almost 4,500 dairy farmers in 2025.

In related news, Brookside paid farmers in the Central and South Rift Valley regions KSh 1.9 billion for milk supplies in 2024.

Narok county farmers earned KSh 1 billion, making them the highest-paid individuals during the period under review.

Farmers in Kericho and Bomet counties earned a total of KSh 69 million, while those in the Nakuru region received KSh 854 million, an increase from KSh 794 million.

In a separate story, the New Kenya Co-operative Creameries (New KCC) increased farm-gate milk prices by KSh 5 per litre.

This came after President William Ruto issued an order to raise farmers' incomes nationwide.

Ruto said his government will support training and make investments in value addition to boost the effectiveness of the New KCC.

Source: TUKO.co.ke