Uganda’s Dairy Development Authority (DDA) says Kenyan authorities are limiting the number of export permits for powdered milk from the country.

DDA executive director Samson Akankiza told The Monitor that Nairobi is only issuing about 20 percent of entry papers to exporters of its powdered milk.

“I don’t have figures off-head, but the reduction is about 20 percent. Other products are getting permits except milk powder; but the market is still open, and Uganda milk players are exporting products there,” he said.

In early March, Kenya imposed a ban on Ugandan powdered milk, saying it was to protect local producers. A few weeks later, it reopened the doors following bilateral discussions.

“The official position is that the ban was lifted, and now we are seeing a reduction in volumes of milk powder being exported there,” Mr Akankiza said.

His statements come after Benson Mwangi, the general manager at Brookside Uganda, a firm owned by the family of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, said Nairobi is denying the milk processor export permits and that those given are often delayed.

“Effective March 19, 2023, the Kenyan government through Kenya Dairy Board stopped issuing permits for our dairy products in the Kentrade system, affecting our factory output significantly,” he says in a letter dated April 5.

Brookside is one of Uganda’s leading milk producers and exporters alongside Pearl Dairies, Jesa Farm Dairy, Amos Dairies Uganda Limited, Paramount Dairies Limited, GBK Dairy Products Limited and Lakeside Dairy Limited.

The Kenyan-owned firm, together wit Pearl and Amos dairies are expected to sign export agreements with Algeria in June after Uganda widened its search for a market for its milk following the incessant trade wars with its East African neighbours.

Kenya has been the leading buyer of Uganda’s milk, with imports valued at $138.2 million in 2020, although trade relations between the two countries have faced several barriers, prompting Uganda to search for new markets for its milk as many of its dairy processors were hard it by the loss of the Kenyan market. - The Monitor

Lawyer Miguna Miguna has dismissed reports that he was heckled and chased away from a funeral in Homa Bay County.

In a statement via his Twitter page, Miguna slammed the media for misreporting the incident.

“The MC announced that I had to speak first because I had another engagement in Kisumu. I spoke and left for that engagement. Just like the Homa Bay Women Rep also had done. Your cheap lies didn’t make ⁦Raila Odinga president,” Miguna said. 

While reacting to another report by Nation, Miguna said; “I was wildly cheered at 3 events in Nyando, Nyakach and Muhoroni last week after publicly calling out Raila Odinga but the Media didn’t report those even with one line. They now scream over 3 hecklers!”

Miguna in the funeral attacked Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga accusing him of denying the Nyanza people the fruits of independence by not embracing multi-party democracy. 

“There is what we call the multiparty democracy in Kenya which we (Luos) including Raila Odinga fought for. Raila was even detained because of the fight for democracy. But it’s unfortunate we (Luos) now through Raila don’t want to embrace the multiparty by wanting us to be into one political party. 

“I refuse to buy it and I say here that we must embrace multiparty democracy. And we must also accept that William Ruto is the president of Kenya whether you like it or not,” said Miguna. 

After finishing his speech Miguna handed over the microphone and left the dais. Some of the mourners dared him to speak ill of Raila as he walked away. By Ezra Nyakundi, KDRTV