Milk shortage in Kenya: How chai lovers can make a packet of milk last longer
By Valerian Khakayi, September 4, 2026For many Kenyans, chai is more than just a morning drink. It is part of the daily routine, whether enjoyed before work, during an afternoon break or in the evening with a snack.
But with milk supplies tightening in parts of the country, that familiar cup of milky tea is becoming something households may need to plan for.
The Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) says the country is experiencing temporary supply constraints, with dry and cold conditions in key milk-producing areas affecting pasture and fodder availability. Formal milk deliveries to processors fell by 3.7 per cent between June and July 2026, from 84.4 million litres to 81.3 million litres.
For chai lovers, however, a milk shortage does not necessarily mean giving up their favourite drink. A few simple habits can help make a packet of milk last longer.
- Measure before you pour
One of the easiest ways to use less milk is to avoid pouring it straight from the packet into the sufuria. Measuring the amount needed for each batch can help prevent accidental overuse.
If your household usually makes very milky chai, gradually reducing the quantity of milk while maintaining enough water can also make a packet last longer.
- Make smaller batches
Instead of preparing a large sufuria of chai that may leave some tea sitting around, consider making only enough for the people who are drinking it at that particular time.
This can also reduce wastage, especially when leftover tea is eventually poured away.
- Let the tea do some of the work
Strongly brewed tea, combined with spices such as ginger, cardamom or cinnamon, can give your chai a fuller flavour even when you use slightly less milk.
The idea is not to remove milk completely but to make the overall cup satisfying without depending on a large quantity of it.
- Consider longer-life options
KDB says pasteurised milk has been more affected by the current supply constraints, while long-life varieties such as UHT and ESL have remained comparatively more available.
“Pasteurised milk has generally been more affected, while long-life milk (ESL and UHT) remains comparatively more available,” KDB Managing Director Dr William Maritim said in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
For households struggling to find fresh milk, these options may provide a practical temporary alternative for chai.
With the milk shortage expected to ease as rainfall improves pasture and fodder availability, chai lovers may only need to make their milk supplies go a little further for now.