Ruto’s Economic Adviser Offers Unexpected Explanation for Milk Shortage, Link to Affordable Housing

President William Ruto’s economic adviser, David Ndii, has offered an unusual explanation for the milk shortages reported in supermarkets, blaming increased demand from workers employed in the government’s affordable housing projects.

Speaking at the NCBA Economic Forum in Nairobi, Ndii argued that Kenya was not facing a milk production crisis but rather a surge in consumption that was putting pressure on available supplies.

He explained that contractors working on affordable housing projects had increasingly been buying milk for construction workers, creating an additional market that was contributing to the shortages.

According to Ndii, thousands of workers employed at government construction sites now consume milk supplied by their contractors, adding to the demand from ordinary households and other consumers.

To support his argument, the economist cited figures showing that national milk production had increased by 20 per cent to approximately 5.6 billion litres under the Ruto administration.

He also claimed that deliveries to milk processors had grown by 34 per cent, insisting that the increased demand, rather than declining production, was behind the pressure on supplies.

His explanation comes amid growing frustration among consumers who have struggled to find their preferred milk brands in supermarkets, with some retailers reportedly running out of stock.

The remarks are likely to attract public attention, particularly as households continue to grapple with the cost of essential commodities. While Ndii maintains that production has improved, consumers are left questioning why milk remains difficult to find despite the reported increase in output.

The dairy industry also faces challenges ranging from unpredictable weather patterns to rising animal-feed costs, factors that can affect milk production and the amount of raw milk reaching processors.

Ndii’s explanation has consequently brought the government’s affordable housing programme into an unexpected debate, suggesting that the growing number of construction workers and their demand for milk could be contributing to the shortages affecting consumers.

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