Pwani Oil’s Sawa Milking Jelly has launched a nationwide farmer empowerment initiative aimed at helping dairy farmers across Kenya address rising challenges linked to mastitis infections, poor dairy hygiene, declining milk quality, and reduced farm productivity.
The programme, implemented in partnership with AMA Energy, focuses on equipping farmers with practical knowledge on animal wellness, udder care, and improved milking practices.
AMA Energy, a high-efficiency animal feed additive, provides clean energy to livestock while promoting sustainable agriculture through the use of food-manufacturing co-products and reducing competition between human food systems and animal feed production.
Set to run until August 2026, the campaign will traverse 17 towns across four counties—Bomet, Narok, Nyandarua, and Murang’a—through 105 mini farm activations and two regional intensive farm engagements.
Speaking during a farmer engagement forum in Gatanga, Murang’a County, Sawa Milking Jelly Brand Manager James Faraja said dairy farmers remain central to Kenya’s food systems and rural economy.
“Kenya’s dairy farmers are at the centre of the country’s food systems and rural economy. Supporting them with practical knowledge, proper udder care education and animal wellness solutions is essential in improving milk quality, protecting livestock health and building more sustainable farming communities,” Faraja said.
The initiative comes as Kenya’s dairy sector faces persistent pressure from livestock diseases, rising production costs, and increasing demand for higher milk quality standards.
Data from the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions indicates that subclinical mastitis—an infection that often shows no visible symptoms—affects more than 50 per cent of dairy cattle in Kenya, contributing significantly to reduced productivity and income losses for farmers.
Despite these challenges, dairy farming remains one of Kenya’s most important agricultural activities, supporting millions of livelihoods and serving as a key source of nutrition and household income in rural areas. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the global dairy industry supports over 150 million farming households worldwide and plays a critical role in food security, rural development, and economic resilience.
Recent agricultural sustainability research published in late 2025 further highlights that improved dairy hygiene and animal health practices contribute directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly zero hunger, good health and well-being, decent work and economic growth, and responsible consumption and production.
AMA Energy will complement the programme through grassroots outreach initiatives aimed at strengthening engagement with rural farming communities and expanding access to livestock nutrition solutions.
Veterinary expert Job Munene, who also addressed farmers during the Gatanga forum, noted that mastitis remains one of the leading causes of milk losses and reduced dairy productivity among smallholder farmers across East Africa.
“The condition not only affects milk quality and farmer earnings but also impacts animal comfort, welfare and long-term farm sustainability. Many of these losses can be reduced through greater farmer education, preventative animal care and improved milking hygiene practices,” Munene said.
Through the initiative, farmers will undergo hands-on training in udder care, mastitis prevention, milk hygiene, cow wellness, and best milking practices aimed at improving productivity and animal welfare.
The programme will also elevate farmer experiences through community engagement and storytelling, highlighting both the challenges and resilience of Kenya’s dairy farming communities.
