NAIROBI, Kenya– Kenya’s coffee sector has recorded strong growth in the 2025/26 season, with earnings from the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) rising to Sh31.94 billion as Kericho emerged as the country’s leading coffee-producing county.
Data from the NCE up to Auction Sale 29 shows that farmers sold 36.36 million kilogrammes of clean coffee valued at $247.62 million (Sh31.94 billion), surpassing the entire 2024/25 season when 31.33 million kilogrammes worth $216.44 million (Sh27.92 billion) were traded.
The figures represent an increase of more than five million kilogrammes of coffee and nearly Sh4 billion in earnings, highlighting improved production and stronger returns for farmers despite a slight decline in average prices.
Kericho retained the top position after selling six million kilogrammes of clean coffee valued at Sh5.29 billion, almost double the Sh2.61 billion earned during the previous full season.
The county nearly doubled its auction volumes from 3.03 million kilogrammes and overtook Kirinyaga to become Kenya’s leading coffee-producing county by both volume and value at the exchange.
Murang’a ranked second with 4.96 million kilogrammes valued at Sh4.33 billion, while Nyeri placed third after selling 4.63 million kilogrammes worth Sh4.18 billion.
Kirinyaga, traditionally one of the country’s leading coffee-growing regions, slipped to fourth place despite generating Sh4.31 billion from 4.61 million kilogrammes sold through the auction.
Kiambu completed the top five counties with coffee sales valued at Sh3.46 billion.
The Rift Valley continued to strengthen its position in the coffee sector, with Nandi recording sales of 2.22 million kilogrammes worth Sh1.9 billion to rank sixth nationally.
Bungoma followed with earnings of Sh1.68 billion, ahead of Embu, which generated Sh1.6 billion from coffee auction sales.
Meru, Kisii and Nyamira also posted strong performances, collectively reinforcing the growing contribution of non-traditional coffee-growing regions.
Among the fastest-growing counties were Kisii, whose earnings surged from Sh197.5 million to Sh888.4 million, and Nyamira, where revenues increased from Sh104.2 million to Sh588 million.
Other counties, including Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Bomet, also recorded notable growth, signalling the continued expansion of coffee farming beyond the traditional Central Kenya coffee belt.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh said the strongest growth was being recorded in the Rift Valley and western Kenya regions.
“The most striking growth has been recorded in the Rift Valley and western regions, with Nandi up 92 per cent, Bungoma 97 per cent, Kisii more than fourfold and Nyamira nearly sixfold,” Ronoh said.
The traditional Central Kenya coffee-growing zone saw its share of auction volumes decline from 62 per cent to 51 per cent as production expanded in other parts of the country.
However, some counties registered lower production and earnings. Machakos, Tharaka Nithi, Nakuru, Homa Bay and Nairobi all posted declines compared with the previous season.
Busia, Vihiga, Kajiado, Taita Taveta and Siaya recorded no coffee sales through the exchange during the period under review.
The NCE data covers only coffee traded through the auction system and excludes direct sales conducted under the Direct Settlement System (DSS).
Despite a marginal decline in the average realised price from $6.91 to $6.81 per kilogramme, cumulative sales have already exceeded the entire 2024/25 season, driven largely by increased production volumes.
“Growth has been volume-led, with the average realised price easing marginally from USD 6.91 to USD 6.81 per kilogramme, a decline that has been more than offset by higher throughput,” Ronoh said.