Kajiado: For generations, Maasai women in Kajiado County have relied on milk as a vital resource, using it for household consumption and selling any surplus at local markets. However, the earnings were often meager, dictated by middlemen who controlled pricing and left women with little financial security. Despite owning the milk, they lacked the power to turn it into a sustainable source of income.
According to Kenya News Agency, that reality has changed over the years with the rise of hundreds of dairy cooperative societies, which have empowered women to take control of their milk sales, negotiate fair prices, and access structured markets. Through the cooperatives, women have gained direct access to formal markets, eliminating middlemen who once dictated prices. They now negotiate fair rates, receive timely payments, and access financial services, ensuring that milk sales translate into stable incomes.
The ability to pool resources has also allowed them to purchase bulk animal feeds, invest in cooling fa
cilities to prevent milk spoilage, and improve milk hygiene, making their products more competitive. Leading this transformation is the Maasai Kajiado Women Dairy Cooperative Society, the largest women-owned dairy cooperative in the region, which has grown from 500 members in 2011 to an impressive 4,400 members today.
For women like Josephine Tima, a member of the Maasai Kajiado Women Dairy Cooperative Society, this transformation has been life-changing. Once struggling to provide for her children, she now earns enough from milk sales to pay school fees, improve her home, and save for the future. ‘Before joining the cooperative, I would sell my milk to brokers who dictated the price. Some days, I would make losses. It was heartbreaking to wake up early, milk the cows, walk for kilometers to the market, and still come home with barely anything,’ she recalls. Through the cooperative, Tima now sells her milk at competitive prices, ensuring consistent income for her family.
Similarly, Joyce Nasieku, a member of
the Samli Women Dairy Cooperative, has seen her fortunes change. Like many Maasai women, Joyce initially viewed dairy farming as a subsistence activity, producing milk primarily for household consumption. However, after joining the cooperative, she discovered the economic potential of commercial dairy farming. ‘I never imagined that milk could be a business opportunity. It was just something we used at home as pastoralists. We didn’t know about proper feeding or hygiene, and we never thought about selling to bigger markets. I used to give away what we didn’t consume or sell it at throwaway prices.’ she explains.
Through training and mentorship, Nasieku learned modern dairy farming techniques, including proper animal nutrition, milk hygiene, and financial management. The cooperative also introduced her to structured markets, eliminating middlemen and ensuring she earns fair prices for her milk. Today, her dairy farm has expanded significantly, the income she generates has allowed her to pay school fees for he
r children, improve her home, and invest in additional livestock.
For Beatrice Kerei, Chairlady of the Nasiru Farmers’ Cooperative Society, the goal has always been economic empowerment for Maasai women. She notes that for too long, Maa women have been financially dependent on their husbands, leaving them vulnerable in times of hardship. ‘For a long time, Maasai women have been left at the mercy of their husbands in matters of finances. It is high time they learned to fend for themselves,’ she says. Kerei adds that apart from selling milk, the cooperative is focusing on value addition to ensure sustainability during periods of drought.
Beyond individual success, cooperatives have fostered community resilience, allowing women to support each other through savings groups (chamas), access business loans, and invest in value-added dairy products like yogurt and cheese. The County Government of Kajiado has further strengthened this movement by providing training, funding, and market linkages, ensuring long-term
sustainability.
In a culture where cows belong to men but milk belongs to women, dairy cooperatives have given Maasai women economic power, transforming milk from a household staple into a pathway to financial independence. With more women turning to structured dairy farming, the once-distant dream of self-reliance, quality education for their children, and long-term financial security is steadily becoming a reality.