Dairy farmers in Uasin Gishu County now have a simpler way to pay school fees thanks to Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim’s “Maziwa ni School Fees” initiative, which enables them to use milk as a direct payment for education.
The initiative, which was unveiled on Friday, February 28, 2025, seeks to empower farmers by allowing them to contribute milk to cooperative societies, which will then be converted into school fees.
The launch, held at Tuiyo Farmers Cooperative Society, was graced by Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs, Dr. Wycliffe Oparanya, Deputy Governor Evans Kapkea, and other senior county officials, including CECMs Martha Cheruto (Cooperative), Dr. Sam Kottut (Agriculture), and Edward Sawe (Lands).
The “Maziwa ni School Fees” initiative is expected to significantly ease the financial burden on dairy farmers while promoting the growth of milk cooperatives.
How maziwa ni school fees program will work
Farmers can now directly contribute their milk to cooperatives, ensuring their children’s education is secured without the stress of school fee payments.
Speaking at the event, Governor Bii reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting dairy farmers by providing subsidized artificial insemination (AI) services to boost milk production.
“More heifers mean more milk and more milk means a better livelihood for our farmers,” he stated.
Beyond dairy farming, Governor Bii emphasized the need for crop diversification, highlighting the county’s efforts to promote the farming of high-value Crops such as Avocados, Coffee, and pyrethrum, among others.
The launch saw an overwhelming turnout, with over 3,000 farmers showing up to support the initiative.
Governor Bii commended the role of AI in improving dairy stock, encouraging farmers to take advantage of modern farming techniques to increase milk yields.
CS Oparanya lauded the “Maziwa ni School Fees” program as a game-changer in both the education and economic sectors
He emphasized that cooperatives are the best way to bridge the gap between wealthy and struggling farmers, urging other sectors, such as coffee, fish, and tea cooperatives, to emulate the milk cooperatives in tackling school fee challenges.
“In Kenya, we have 31,200 cooperatives. If we strengthen them, we can transform our economy,” Oparanya stated.
He called on farmers to embrace cooperatives, emphasizing that through organized efforts, Kenya can process more milk and increase its current production of 370,000 litres to at least 600,000 litres daily.
Deputy Governor Hon. Evans Kapkea and other senior county officials also lauded the program, emphasizing its potential to uplift farmers, improve the dairy industry, and create a sustainable model for school fee payment.
