KIRINYAGA, Kenya-President William Ruto has unveiled an ambitious plan to triple Kenya’s coffee production to 150,000 tonnes annually by 2028 as part of a sweeping strategy to revive the sector and boost earnings for farmers.
Speaking during the launch of the Coffee Sector Revitalisation Programme through cooperative societies in Kianyaga, Kirinyaga County, on Monday, the President said the government’s priority is to ensure coffee farmers receive a larger share of the value generated by the crop.
“Every seedling we plant, every factory we modernise, every reform we implement and every market we open must translate into more income for the farmer,” Ruto said.
Kenya currently produces about 50,000 tonnes of coffee annually. The government now aims to increase output threefold by expanding acreage under coffee cultivation, distributing improved seedlings and enhancing productivity at the farm level.
The President said the average coffee tree in Kenya currently yields about two kilograms, but the government is targeting at least six kilograms per tree through the use of quality seedlings, affordable fertiliser, modern farming practices and enhanced extension services.
As part of the reforms, the government will continue distributing millions of certified coffee seedlings and supporting farmers throughout the production cycle to ensure higher yields and improved quality.
Ruto also highlighted efforts to lower production costs, pointing to the subsidised fertiliser programme that has reduced the price of a bag of fertiliser from KSh7,500 to KSh2,500.
The reforms will focus on strengthening traditional coffee-growing counties including Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kiambu, Embu and Meru, while also expanding coffee farming into new regions across Western Kenya, Rift Valley and Nyanza.
The government expects the area under coffee cultivation to increase from the current 110,000 hectares to 150,000 hectares within the next two years.
Beyond increasing production, Ruto said the government is investing in modernising coffee factories and processing facilities to improve the quality of Kenyan coffee and enhance its competitiveness in international markets.
He emphasised the central role of cooperative societies in the revival strategy, saying they will enable farmers to market coffee collectively, access affordable inputs and negotiate better prices through direct access to buyers at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange.
The President reiterated that farmers must receive at least 80 per cent of coffee sales proceeds, with service providers sharing the remaining 20 per cent. He also pledged faster payments through a direct payment system that will ensure farmers receive their earnings within five days of sale.
To boost local demand, the government aims to increase domestic coffee consumption from less than two per cent of national production to 20 per cent within five years.
Ruto also challenged investors to partner with the government in developing globally recognised Kenyan coffee brands, arguing that the country has for decades exported raw coffee while missing out on lucrative opportunities in processing, packaging and branding.
“We will no longer be exporters of raw materials alone. The next globally recognised coffee brand should come from Kenya,” he said.
The President said Kenya’s diplomatic missions have been tasked with securing new markets across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas as the country seeks to maximise returns from one of its most valuable cash crops.
The coffee revival programme forms part of the government’s broader agenda to increase agricultural productivity, strengthen cooperative societies and improve livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of coffee-growing households across the country.
