Mapping the Camel Milk Value Chains Supplying Nairobi City: a Framework for Identification of Public Health Risks

Abstract

Kenya ranks as the second largest producer of camel milk globally, with an estimated annual output of 0.94 million liters and a projected value exceeding 34 million USD. The camel milk trade in Kenya has transitioned from a small-scale local village activity to a more extensive network involving multiple stakeholders, with distribution now reaching urban areas like Nairobi City. This expansion, however, poses potential public health risks to the city's residents. Despite the marked growth, the subsector remains largely informal and minimally regulated, and the supply chain has yet to be fully described. A cross-sectional study using a value chain (VC) analysis approach was conducted between 2014 and 2015 to map the camel milk supply chain to Nairobi City. This framework was used to investigate public health risk practices within the chain. Initial mapping was conducted in collaboration with the Kenya Camel Association to identify the key actors supplying milk to Nairobi City. Data collection involved focus group discussions and key informant interviews with various stakeholders including camel keepers, milk traders, transporters, as well as government and non-government officials, and the owner of a milk processing company. A total of 96 stakeholders were identified and interviewed (89 during focus group discussions and 7 as key informants). The main milk value chain profiles and their related food safety and zoonotic risks, governance, and distribution of benefits were mapped. The study identified three distinct camel milk value chains that supply Nairobi: the Isiolo milk chain, the Kajiado milk chain, and the camel milk processing company chain. Overall, informal milk chains (Isiolo and Kajiado) account for 95% of the milk marketed in Nairobi City while only 5% originates from a single formal supply chain (processing company). Main risky practices to zoonosis and food safety identified at the farm level were poor milking hygiene, mixing of sick animals and lack of clean water. At the transport level, the main practices included use of unclean plastic containers to carry milk, dusty roads, lack of cold chain and mixing milk with other products...