Kenya’s coffee sector has roared back to life. New rules like the Coffee Bill 2020 are revamping the coffee industry. A fresh body, the Kenya Coffee Council, now watches over reforms. The state wants yearly output to surge from 51,000 to 150,000 metric tonnes within three years. The Direct Settlement System puts sale money straight into farmers’ phones, cutting middlemen and enhancing farmer empowerment. Capital Markets Authority now licenses brokers, while counties grant milling permits, speeding paperwork.
Kenyan coffee’s renaissance unleashed: fresh rules, farmer-centric pay, and an ambitious three-year jump to 150,000 tonnes.
To replace old trees, over 780,000 free disease-proof seedlings went to Busia and other regions. The Coffee Expansion Program hands out cheap seedlings and grants so towns can grow or restock farms. Scientists at the Coffee Research Institute breed drought-tough varieties for hotter days and pursuing higher altitude areas helps adapt to climate change. Farmers are also taught composting and cover crops to keep soils alive and trees healthy.
Collapsed co-ops have been revived. About 70 percent of Kenya’s beans come from small farms, so strong groups matter. Leaders receive lessons on books, finance, and bean grading, helping them win top prices abroad. New loan schemes and clear accounts also mean funds flow smoothly. Clerks are tidying data so every farmer’s bank link works with the new direct pay setup.
Extension staff are back on the road. They teach soil care, pest control, drip irrigation, and best seeds. Climate-smart tricks such as growing shade trees beside coffee and using water wisely are shared widely. Tiny weather stations and apps warn growers of storms or dry spells. Recognising that value addition will multiply incomes, the government is underwriting modest roasting units in every major county.
Officials predict a 13.3 percent rise in coffee production for 2025/26, hinting that the long slump is over. Next year, a yet-to-pass bill hopes to fund an independent Coffee Board and a Coffee Research and Training Institute through a small levy on each sale.
