Kenya launches coffee revitalization programme to triple production by 2028/29
Government expands coffee farming into new regions, backed by increased funding, cooperative reforms and infrastructure investments to accelerate production growth.
KENYA – Kenya has launched the Coffee Revitalization Programme in the North Rift region as part of a national strategy to increase annual coffee production from the current 50,000 metric tonnes to more than 150,000 metric tonnes by the 2028/29 financial year.
The programme targets West Pokot, Nandi, Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties, with the government seeking to expand coffee cultivation into new growing frontiers to boost national output.
Speaking during the programme’s launch in Eldoret, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Wycliffe Oparanya said the regional rollout follows the national launch by President William Ruto two weeks ago and forms part of a countrywide implementation plan.
“These engagements reaffirm our commitment to revitalizing Kenya’s coffee sector through stronger cooperatives, improved governance and targeted support for farmers as we work towards increasing coffee production from 50,000 to 150,000 metric tonnes by 2028/29 financial year,” said Oparanya.
He said the government is implementing broad reforms to address longstanding challenges in the coffee sector, including amendments to the Cooperative Act that are currently under mediation in Parliament.
Oparanya expressed confidence that the revised legislation will be enacted by September, strengthening governance within coffee cooperatives.
To support the reforms, the government increased funding for the sector from Ksh500 million last year to Ksh1 billion in the current financial year. The allocation will finance sector reforms and provide direct support to coffee farmers.
Oparanya said the Coffee Revitalization Programme adopts a whole-of-government approach involving county governments, county commissioners, the Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU), the Coffee Research Institute, the Nairobi Coffee Exchange and other stakeholders to coordinate implementation across counties.
County steering committees have been assigned to profile coffee farmers, map acreage under cultivation, identify suitable coffee varieties, monitor production and submit regular progress reports to the national government.
“The information from the counties will enable us to know where seedlings, machinery and other interventions are required so that support reaches farmers in good time,” Oparanya said.
The Cabinet Secretary also highlighted reforms already implemented to improve farmer earnings, including reducing coffee payment periods from more than one month to five days after sales.
Once the amended Cooperative Act takes effect, he said, farmers will receive 80% of their earnings directly through the Direct Settlement System (DSS), with the remaining 20% paid to their cooperatives.
In addition, Oparanya announced that the government has released Ksh4 billion to clear historic coffee cooperative debts and is seeking an additional Ksh2.8 billion through a supplementary budget to complete the exercise.
He added that the government will establish strategic coffee milling plants, including one in Eldoret, while negotiating subsidized coffee pulping machines to reduce production costs and strengthen the sector’s long-term competitiveness.
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