Kenya targets 150,000 MT of coffee production by 2028

KENYA – Kenya is intensifying efforts to secure new export markets for its coffee as the government targets production of 150,000 metric tonnes by 2028 in a bid to increase foreign exchange earnings and improve incomes for smallholder farmers. 

The renewed push was highlighted during the East Africa Coffee Markets and Conference (EACMC) breakfast meeting held in Nairobi, where stakeholders from across the coffee value chain met to discuss trade, investment and buyer partnerships aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of East African coffee in international markets. 

Speaking at the meeting, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Cooperatives Patrick Kilemi said the government is implementing measures to transform Kenya into a major player in the global coffee industry through increased production, stronger cooperatives and expanded market access. 

“On the global coffee map, we do not want to be a dot; we want to be a number that will be referenced,” Kilemi said, noting that Ethiopia and Uganda have already established strong positions in Africa’s coffee export market. 

According to Kilemi, the target of producing 150,000 metric tonnes of coffee by 2028 forms part of broader efforts to revive the sector and improve the country’s competitiveness. 

To support the expansion, the government is increasing interventions across the coffee value chain, including the distribution of seedlings and support for emerging coffee-growing areas. 

“We want to make sure that every farmer who digs a coffee hole gets a seedling at the right time,” Kilemi said. 

He noted that coffee cultivation has expanded beyond traditional production zones, with 35 of Kenya’s 47 counties now growing the crop. 

Seedling distribution is being coordinated with planting seasons in different regions, including the Western and North Rift regions during the March-April rains and the Mount Kenya region during the October-November planting season. 

Kilemi also underscored the importance of cooperative societies, saying they remain central to the coffee industry because most smallholder farmers market their produce through cooperatives. 

“Coffee remains one of Kenya’s most important agricultural commodities and a major source of livelihood for hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers. Most of these farmers market their coffee through cooperative societies, making cooperatives the backbone of the coffee value chain,” he said. 

The government is also pursuing reforms to improve governance in cooperatives, strengthen farmer representation and increase transparency in coffee marketing. Digitisation initiatives are being introduced to improve efficiency, lower transaction costs and enhance traceability. 

Kilemi urged farmers and cooperatives to adopt sustainable practices and focus on quality and value addition. 

“By connecting farmers directly to markets and fostering practical engagement across the value chain, this conference aligns perfectly with the Government of Kenya’s vision for a vibrant, competitive and farmer-centred coffee industry. We must place great emphasis on value addition, branding and market differentiation,” he stated. 

According to data from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kenya earned US$297 million from coffee exports to 59 countries in 2025, underscoring the crop’s importance as a major source of foreign exchange. 

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