Press Statement of IPAR, ITDG, SITE and Action Aid to Raise Critical Concerns Relating to the Current High-profile 'Safe Milk Campaign'

This is the press statement released by four NGOs to counter the facts used in the 'Safe Milk Campaign' launched by KDB. It raises concerns regarding the accuracy and 'proportion' in reporting of health risks of milk sold by hawkers and tells the real story of the dairy industry and dependent livelihoods.

In recommendation, the document stated: Given the inability of most Kenyan consumers to switch to processed milk, the overall effect of misinformation on the risks of raw milk will potentially be a significant reduction in the amount of milk purchased. With so many livelihoods dependent on the sector, this is clearly not in the interests of farmers, market agents and consumers who currently benefit so much from access to affordable milk.

Dairy is hugely important and has the potential to play a key role in Kenya's economic recovery. Thus:

• There is a need to engage in and develop not only the formal processed sector, but also the hugely important informal sector.
  
• Greater investment in training of all market participants by both the public and private sector is required.
  
• This training must be linked to some form of accreditation or licensing.
  
• There is a need to explore, develop and promote systems of self-regulation within the industry.
  
• There is a need to promote a wider understanding of all these issues in order to maximise the contribution of the dairy sector to economic recovery, job creation and poverty reduction.