Sweet news for residents as firm launches milk cooling plants

BY EDWIN CHESEREK

WEST POKOT AND ELGEYO/MARAKWET COUNTY: Brookside Dairy has set up two milk cooling plants along the West Pokot and Marakwet border to end hostility between the two communities.

Elders from the communities yesterday attended the launch of Tapach and Kaptalamwa cooling stations established to bring together the two groups to engage in vibrant income generating activities and avoid wrangles fueled by cattle rustling and conflict over resources.

Brookside’s General Manager in charge of Milk Procurement and Extension Services Mr John Gethi said the processor would partner with the farmers in the area to establish additional cooling facilities.

“We are willing to support dairy farming in this area because most of the people depend on livestock as a source of livelihood. This sector, if exploited fully, will improve livelihoods,” he said.

Foster peace

He said the two coolers were set up at a cost of Sh6million each, and were acquired in partnership with Lelan Highland Dairy, a local farmers’ group that was also established to foster peace. Gethi advised farmers against adding water or chemical preservatives to their milk, saying the processor had an elaborate raw milk testing regime that would detect such additives.

“The economic burden of milk rejection due to added water or chemical presence is enormous. We want to achieve a zero raw milk rejection status for all our suppliers,” Gethi said.

Kenneth Lomaibong’, the chairman of Lelan Highland Dairy, expressed optimism that the new cooling stations would lead to increased economic opportunities for residents of the two counties.

Kenya Dairy Board Regional Manager Pius Cheserek said the regulator would soon partner with Brookside to roll out training for dairy farmers to enable them increase the volume of milk sold to the processor.