A university graduate has recently drawn attention by revealing his earnings from dairy farming, a surprising choice given the high unemployment rates among young people in Kenya.
Gordon Chui, 28, graduated from Chuka University in 2018 with a diploma in animal health and production. Instead of seeking traditional employment, Chui chose to follow his passion for farming.
Chui began his dairy farming journey in 2015 while still in college, and he committed fully to the venture upon graduating. His parents supported his endeavor by providing him with two cows—a Friesian and an Ayrshire.
Now, Chui manages a herd of 13 cows, including four heifers, three dry cows, and six milk-producing cows. He sells his milk to Brookside, Mt Kenya Milk, and Meru Central dairies.
At his peak, Chui produced 257 liters of milk from 10 cows. Currently, he averages between 155 and 175 liters daily, as three of his cows are dry. He sells 120 to 140 liters in the morning to Brookside at Ksh 54 per liter and 40 to 65 liters in the evening to Mt Kenya or Meru Central at Ksh 50 per liter.
His morning sales generate between Ksh 6,480 and Ksh 7,560, while his evening sales bring in Ksh 2,000 to Ksh 3,250.
Dairy farming in Kenya is predominantly smallholder-driven, with over 400,000 farmers contributing more than 70% of the country’s milk production. Since independence in 1963, the sector has transformed from colonial oversight to a self-sustaining industry.
Kenya’s dairy cows produce about 3.5 billion liters of milk annually, making the country one of Africa’s largest dairy consumers. Key breeds such as Friesians and Ayrshires are mainly found in high-potential areas like the Rift Valley and Central Province. However, the industry faces challenges including high production costs and the need for better feed quality to meet growing consumer demand.
