Milk prices have jumped sharply across Nairobi and other parts of the country, with a Kenyans.co.ke spot check showing a 500ml packet selling for as much as Ksh90 in several areas as a persistent shortage tightens supplies.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In Pipeline, the price has climbed even higher, with fresh milk at one hotel outlet now retailing at Ksh110 per litre from Ksh60, according to a price poster shared by the establishment.

The Ksh110 price highlights the growing pressure on consumers who rely on fresh milk, particularly those buying from milk ATMs and dairy outlets where prices have been adjusted repeatedly in recent weeks.

A Kenyans.co.ke spot check found a 500ml packet of milk retailing at Ksh90 in Roysambu, while consumers in Lower Kabete were paying about Ksh90 for the same quantity.

📌 What You Need to Know

In Utawala, the price stood at Ksh90 for a 500ml packet, while shoppers in the Embakasi area, including Pipeline, were paying about Ksh90. Milk ATM operators have been particularly affected, with milk supplies falling fourfold from 2,000 litres to 500 litres daily.

The operators rely on regular deliveries of fresh milk and must also meet additional transport and operating costs before selling the commodity to consumers. The hike in prices has also spread beyond Nairobi, with a 500ml packet in Meru retailing at Ksh75, up from about Ksh57 previously.

In Kiambu, the same quantity was selling at Ksh80, compared to about Ksh52 previously, representing a significant increase for households that regularly buy milk.

The price increases come as supermarkets and dairy outlets report thinner deliveries, with some popular brands missing from shelves in some stores.

The shortage has also affected hotels and restaurants, with one hotel owner in Pipeline saying the business previously received about 2,000 litres of milk per day but is now receiving only around 500 litres, and this sharp drop in supply has forced businesses to cut back on milk purchases as prices rise, putting additional pressure on the cost of tea and other milk-based products sold to consumers.

Milk ATM operators have also been hit by the squeeze, with higher purchase prices and transport costs making it more expensive to maintain regular supplies, and the rising cost of fuel has further increased the operating pressure on businesses that depend on frequent milk deliveries, forcing some operators to raise their prices to remain in business.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke