Kenya invests US$15.5M in coffee pulping machines to boost production, farmer earnings
Government to import Brazilian coffee machines, expand seedling distribution, and roll out youth empowerment programme to revitalize sector.
KENYA – The Government of Kenya has announced a KES 2 billion (US$15.5M) investment to import coffee pulping machines for farmers, aiming to revive the country’s once-thriving coffee industry.
The machines will be made available through cooperative societies under the coordination of the New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU).
Speaking during a briefing, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Wycliffe Oparanya, revealed that discussions are ongoing with suppliers from Brazil, with the delivery of the equipment expected within the next two months.
Oparanya noted that the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to increase national coffee output. Once the leading producer in Africa, Kenya now ranks fifth on the continent. The government is now working to reverse this decline.
“The government has made a deliberate programme to ensure we support our farmers to produce more. President William Ruto wants our farmers to increase production from the current 50,000 tonnes to over 150,000 tonnes annually,” Oparanya stated.
To support this target, President Ruto has approved an additional KES 500 million for coffee sector development. The government aims to raise per-bush productivity from the current six kilogrammes to at least 10 kilogrammes.
In addition to the equipment investment, the government has partnered with five local universities and the Coffee Research Institute to produce over 20 million seedlings annually. As part of the rollout, 200,000 seedlings will be distributed immediately to farmers in Uasin Gishu County.
Farmers will also benefit from subsidised fertiliser, with a push for greater adoption of organic alternatives. Oparanya emphasised that a structured system similar to other crops will be developed to support sustainable growth in the coffee industry.
The government is also increasing funding to the Cherry Advance Revolving Fund, with allocations now exceeding KES 10 billion (US$77.4M) to enable timely payments to farmers.
A new payment model will take effect from July 2025, with all coffee farmer payments channelled through a centralized system managed by Co-operative Bank.
Farmers will earn KES 40 (US$0.31) per kilogramme delivered to cooperatives, with 80 percent remitted directly to the grower and 20 percent retained by societies for operational or community needs.
To tackle youth unemployment, the government will launch the NYOTA Project, targeting the recruitment of one million youths aged 18–29. Participants will receive entrepreneurship training and KES 50,000 (US$386.4) each as startup capital for agribusiness.
Oparanya added that youth and women will be a key focus in upcoming coffee initiatives, particularly through structured cooperative systems.
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