Kenya cracks down on aflatoxin in feeds as contamination threatens dairy exports 

KENYA – Kenya’s Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has declared that the future of the country’s dairy exports depends squarely on eliminating aflatoxin contamination in animal feeds and rewarding farmers for quality milk.

Speaking on 3oth September 2025 at the official opening of the 17th African Dairy Conference and Exhibition (AFDA17) at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kagwe warned that contaminated feeds are undermining Kenya’s export ambitions and exposing the industry to international rejection.

“No export without quality. Aflatoxin in maize feeds passes straight into milk and locks us out of lucrative markets. If we are serious about doubling production and exporting, we must fix feed quality first,” he said.

Quality-based certification programme

To raise standards, Kagwe announced that the government will soon launch a Good Quality Milk certification programme. 

The initiative will set clear hygiene and safety benchmarks while introducing a payment system that rewards farmers for producing premium milk.

“We must all produce good quality milk, and the farmer must be recognised for doing the right thing. It cannot be the same amount for bad and good. Those who produce better will earn better,” Kagwe stressed.

The programme aims to create financial incentives for farmers to adopt better practices, while discouraging the supply of substandard produce that compromises Kenya’s competitiveness abroad.

Tackling the aflatoxin threat

The CS also urged feed manufacturers and farmers to adopt Aflasafe, a biological product proven to suppress aflatoxin in maize, calling it a key tool in safeguarding milk safety and protecting Kenya’s place in global markets.

“Use aflatoxin-free maize. Adopt Aflasafe. This is the only way to guarantee the best milk for Kenyans and protect our place in global markets,” he said.

Kenya produced 5.3 billion litres of milk in 2024, but the output is targeted to double to 10 billion litres in the coming years. 

Kagwe emphasised that achieving this goal will require tackling aflatoxin, reducing feed costs, improving cattle breeds, and incentivising quality.

Call for continental standards

Beyond Kenya’s borders, Kagwe challenged African countries to exchange best practices and harmonise dairy standards under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). 

He cautioned that Africa must reduce its reliance on imported milk powders despite having vast untapped production potential.

The 17th African Dairy Conference and Exhibition, hosted by the Eastern and Southern Africa Dairy Association (ESADA), has drawn hundreds of stakeholders from across the value chain, including cooperatives, SMEs, buyers, and development partners from more than 13 countries. 

The three-day event, running from September 30 to October 2, has placed exhibitors and industry innovators at the centre of discussions on sustainability, resilience, and feed solutions.

Among the topics under review are ration formulation, silage making, and cost-effective feeding systems, with experts like Angela Gitau, Senior Advisor in Nutrition and Husbandry at Perfometer Agribusiness, stressing the need for affordable and resilient animal nutrition practices.

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