Bomet dairy farmers are set to reap major economic benefits as the Chebunyo Milk Processing Plant nears completion, promising to stabilize milk prices, create jobs, and strengthen food security.
The project, spearheaded through the Chebunyo Dairy Cooperative Society, has been hailed as a game-changer for thousands of smallholder farmers in the region.
The cooperative movement has long played a critical role in enhancing livelihoods by pooling resources, improving farmers’ bargaining power, and providing access to credit, markets, and training.
In the dairy sector, cooperatives ensure value addition to raw milk, boosting incomes and resilience in an increasingly competitive market.
The Chebunyo plant, one of Bomet County government’s flagship projects, has recorded significant progress in recent months.
Already connected to three-phase electricity and supplied with water, the facility is now ready for the installation of procured processing equipment.
A high-level inspection team from the County Department of Cooperatives, led by Chief Officer Bernard Koros and Assistant Director Fred Koskei, toured the facility alongside senior engineers from the Department of Public Works to assess ongoing works.
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The officials expressed confidence that the plant would soon be operational.
Koros said Governor Prof. Hillary Barchok’s administration has been keen on fast-tracking the project and has allocated an additional budget for the purchase of an Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) processing line.
The investment will enable the production of long-life milk, with a particular focus on supplying Early Childhood Development (ECD) learners in schools across the county.
At the same time, members of the Chebunyo Dairy Cooperative Society held their Annual General Meeting, during which they elected a new Board of Management to steer the cooperative forward.
Addressing the farmers, Koros emphasized the need for accountability and prudent resource management to safeguard the plant’s sustainability.
Farmers expressed optimism that the facility will open a new chapter for the dairy sector by cutting reliance on middlemen, ensuring consistent milk prices, and providing a ready market for their produce.
Once fully operational, the Chebunyo Milk Processing Plant is expected to transform the fortunes of dairy farmers in Bomet, reinforcing the county’s economic resilience and positioning the cooperative sector as a pillar of sustainable development.
By Philip Koech
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