There are literally thousands if not millions of dairy farms in Kenya. After all, agriculture remains the backbone of our economy, contributing to more than 30 percent of the country’s GDP according to FAO.
On its own, the dairy sector contributes to about 4 percent of the country’s GDP, according to a past report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. In fact, the Kenya Dairy Board reports that milk farming alone contributes to almost half of our livestock farming production.
So, just who are the key players in this sub-sector? Here is a list of some of the renowned private dairy farms in different parts of Kenya.
A List of Top Private Dairy Farms from Across Kenya
| Farm | Ownership | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Gicheha Farm (Ruiru) | The Kenyattas | Ruiru, Kiambu |
| Gogar Dairy Farm | Hamish Grant | Rongai, Nakuru |
| Manera Farm | Claudio Palao | Naivasha, Nakuru |
| Makongi Farm | The Chesire Family | Soy, Uasin Gishu |
| Kapsuswa Dairy Farm | Mama Sarah Boit | Sugoi, Uasin Gishu |
| Gloucester Vale Farm | Jonathan Mayer | Kiminini, Trans Nzoia |
| Maakiou Dairy Farm | Mawara Investments Ltd | Kiamumbi, Kiambu |
| Loruku Dairy Farm | Unknown | Nanyuki |
| Kabarak Dairies | The Mois | Rongai, Nakuru |
| Nyagatugu Dairy Farm | Unknown | Maragua, Murang’a |
| Livestock Dynasties (Ruiru) | George Ngugi Karungo | Ruiru, Kiambu |
| Naiposha Dairy Farm | The Gathecas | Naivasha, Nakuru |
1. Gicheha Dairy Farm
Associated with Kenya’s first family, the Kenyattas, the Gicheha Dairy Farm is one of the largest milk producers in the country. Estimated to sit on over 2000 acres of land within the greater Northlands City area near Nairobi, this farm is a key supplier of milk to the Brookside Dairy factory which is located within its vicinity. The farm has a sister farm in Nakuru going by the same name but mainly used to keep beef cattle.
The farm enjoys a steady water supply from the massive Sukari Dam which is fed by the Kamiti River among other sources.
2. Gogar Dairy Farm
Located in the Rongai area of Nakuru County, the Gogar farm is one of the largest and oldest dairy farms in the country. Owned by the Hamish Grant family, this 5,000 acre farm has been around since just before 1915. As one of the first importers of the ayrshire breed of dairy cattle, this spectacular venture is credited for transforming the Kenyan agricultural sector over time.
Most of the milk from this farm is supplied to Brookside Dairy following the acquisition of the Ilara Dairies brand.
The Gogar Farm obtains a steady supply of water from the Molo River among other sources.
3. The Manera Farm
This 600 hectare (1400 acre) farm is located roughly 2 kilometers from Naivasha along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway. Previously under the Delamere Estates, the Manera Dairy Farm is currently owned by Claudio Palao and her husband Italian husband Pierluigi Maggioni.
Other than housing one of the country’s largest sources of raw cow milk, the Manera Farm hosts a vocational training facility for farm equipment operators.
Overall, this farm has been around since 1906 and details about how (and whether) it shifted from the original owners, the Delameres are currently not available publicly.
This farm enjoys a steady supply of fresh water from the Malewa River in addition to other nearby sources.
4. Makongi Farm
This 1000-acre dairy farm is nestled on the slopes of the Cherangany Hills but on the Uasin Gishu side of the border. Seeing as the Cherangany Hills are one of the important water towers in the country, the farm enjoys a steady supply of the much-needed commodity all-year round thanks to a massive dam on site.
The Makongi Farm was established in 1912 by a British army man and passed ownership two times before eventually being acquired by veteran Kenyan politician Reuben Chesire in 1971. He was barely 30 years old at that time.
The multimillion dairy farm is commonly referred to as the “Home of the Ayrshires” in Kenya.
5. Kapsuswa Dairy Farm
Sitting on a 1200-acre chunk of land, the Kapsuswa Dairy Farm located some 20 Kilometres from Eldoret city is one of the largest dairy farms in Kenya. The farm is owned by Sarah Boit who (as of March 2025) was a non-executive director of the Kenya Dairy Board.
PS: It is worth noting that approximately 70 per cent of the farm is used for maize farming with about 30 per cent being utilized for dairy cattle rearing activities.
In 2018, the farm was reported to have over 400 dairy cows, producing over 3000 liters of milk per day.
The farm has been in existence for over 5 decades under different owners with the Boit family acquiring it in 1994.
6. Gloucester Vale Farm
At the foothills of the Mount Elgon within Trans Nzoia is the Gloucester Vale Farm also known as Bubayi. Associated with the Jonathan Mayer family, this 850-acre dairy farm ranks high among the most productive dairy farms in the country.
The “regenerative” farm was established in 1963 and continues to dominate the milk production sector as one of the largest suppliers to Bio Foods LTD.
Other than milk production, part of this vast farm is used for seed production. The Bubayi Mbegu Plus project is particularly renowned for playing a major role in the empowerment of smallholder farmers across the country.
Adjacent dams and wetlands provide this farm with its much-needed supply of fresh water.
7. Maakiou Farm
Domiciled in the Kiambu Town sub-county of Kiambu County off Kamiti Road, the Maakiou Farm is estimated to span over just 300 acres (although parts of it are used for coffee farming).
Established in 1920, data about just how much milk this farm produces is not available publicly. The farm is owned by the Mawara Investments Ltd having been bought from a Greek couple Mammatas and Apostolos in the 70s.
Located in the rich Kiambu highlands, the farm enjoys a steady supply of water from the Riara River and the Maakiou Dam among other sources.
8. Loruku Dairy Farm
Located in Nanyuki at the slopes of Mount Kenya, the Loruku Dairy Farm is a force to reckon with in the country’s dairy sector. And while specific details about the farm’s current operations are limited, the Nanyuki-Naru Moro area’s favorable climate make it an ideal location for large-scale dairy farming.
To this end, the Loruku Farm continues to gain recognition at a national level all thanks to its robust breeding program. The Loruku Bulls e.g. Nandos and Etro etc have been registered with the Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre (KAGRC), highlighting the farm’s role in enhancing the quality of livestock breeding in the country.
Associated with a low-key white family, the farm is thought to produce thousands of liters of milk on a daily basis.
9. Kabarak Dairies
Acquired in the late 70s by the Daniel Arap Moi family, this behemoth of a dairy farm houses one of the largest Guernsey cow populations in the country. The farm, which is located along the Nakuru-Eldama Ravine road enjoys a steady supply of water from on-site boreholes, Molo River, as well as the Chemususu dam among other sources.
In 2023, the Moi farm took top honours in the Charolais cattle category with its exceptional breed Guernsey Supreme Champion. In a past interview with the Standard Group Media, the farm manager claimed that the cows in the farm produce an average of 30 liters of milk (1st gestation) and up to 40 liters of milk (2nd gestation).
Owing to the unique quality of Guernsey cow milk, the farm retails its milk at a premium price of Ksh100 to Ksh150 per liter.
10. Nyagatugu Dairy Farm
Located along Kenol – Murang’a Road, Nyagatugu Dairy is a true juggernaut in the Kenyan dairy sector. Sitting on a 200-acre farm in the Mitubiri neighborhood of Murang’a County, this farm claimed to produce over 40,000 liters of milk per day in one of its infomercials.
Thanks to its location in close proximity to the Aberdare Ranges, it enjoys ample supply of fresh water from nearby dams thanks to the area’s high water table.
Details about the farm’s ownership and history remain scarce, but a closer look reveals a bustling hub of activity, particularly in cattle rearing, calf breeding, and fodder production.
11. Livestock Dynasties (Ruiru)
Located along the Ruiru-Githunguri road near Tatu City is the Livestock Dynasties Dairy Farm. Previously known as Elite Dairies, the farm was at one point in 2021 reported to house over 1500 dairy cows (with 300 active milkers) harboring the capacity of producing 5000 liters of milk per day.
The 3-acre farm, which is exclusively under zero-grazing, also keeps dairy goats, guard dogs, and ornamental birds.
Associated with the Ngugi Karungo family, the farm enjoys a steady water supply from the nearby rivers and water treatment plants all thanks to the area’s proximity to national-scale water projects.
12. Nai’posha Dairy Farm
Originally started in Ichaweri, Gatundu Kiambu by the Gathecha Family, the Nai’posha farm is a dairy farm currently located near Naivasha town. With a capacity to carry over 300 mature dairy cows, the farm was reported to be home to 150 dairy cows with the high cost of cow feeds being cited as the main reason for the decline in farm size. To mitigate this, the farm has ventured into feed farming on its 70-acre piece of land located along Kinangop Road.
The farm relies on water harvesting and other on-site water sources to sustain itself.
Named after the nearby Lake Naivasha whose original Masai Name Nai’Posha means the land of choppy waters, the farm predominantly rears the Holstein breed of dairy cows.
Other Notable Private Dairy Farms
Other popular dairy farms in the country include Chego Farm (Uasin Gishu), Meved Dairy Farm (Sagana), Kuzuri Dairy Farm (Murang’a), Pokea Farm (Njoro), and Joy Farm (Lanet).
With over 10 years of content writing experience, Mercy is a lead assigning editor at Bizsasa.com. A certified direct-response copywriting specialist, she also holds a Diploma in Project Management from the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) and a CPA II from the Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board (KASNEB).