Githunguri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society has received a 10,000-litre milk cooling tank delivered through the State Department of Livestock Development, fulfilling a pledge made by President William Ruto.
The cooling tank, handed over on March 6, 2026, was supplied with a high-capacity generator and all the necessary operational accessories to support milk preservation at collection points.
The cooperative, which produces the widely known Fresha milk brand, had waited several years for the government to honor the commitment. President Ruto first made the pledge during a visit to the area in 2023 when dairy farmers appealed for cooling infrastructure to help reduce milk spoilage.
Although the President had initially promised a 7,000-litre tank, the unit delivered has a larger 10,000-litre capacity, a development welcomed by the cooperative’s management.
“We have received a 10,000-litre cooler which will allow us to handle more milk from farmers,” said Fredrick Murithi, General Manager of the Fresha dairy brand.
Githunguri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society is Kenya’s third-largest dairy processor with about 27,000 registered members. The cooperative has played a key role in transforming smallholder farmers in the region into some of the country’s leading milk producers.
Currently, the cooperative operates 87 milk collection points, 13 cooling centers and six milk tankers, collecting more than 265,000 liters of milk daily.
Improved cooling infrastructure at collection centers helps reduce milk spoilage and maintain quality, ultimately increasing farmers’ earnings.
The delivery also comes at a time when Kiambu County continues to dominate the country’s dairy sector. The county produces over 1.13 billion liters of milk annually, the highest output in Kenya for the past five consecutive years.
Local leaders who attended the handover said the project demonstrates the government’s commitment to strengthening agricultural infrastructure in the region.
“The arrival of this cooling tank is a major boost for dairy farmers in Githunguri and demonstrates the importance of continued investment in agricultural infrastructure,” said a local representative.
They also highlighted several priority development projects in the area, including the Kaaria–Lioki road, Githunguri Uplands road and Githunguri town link roads.
Other projects mentioned were the completion of Ngewa Market, Githunguri Town Market and the Githunguri Waruhiu farm aggregation centre, which is expected to enhance value addition and improve market access for farmers.
Leaders further called for the extension of last-mile electricity connections to more than 2,500 households to support economic activities such as refrigeration, lighting and small businesses.
The leaders said such investments are key to unlocking the region’s agricultural potential and sustaining economic growth. For dairy farmers in Githunguri, the new cooling tank marks a significant step toward improving milk handling and strengthening the local dairy value chain.
By Ivy Chege
