Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has assured coffee farmers of improved earnings in 2025 following key government interventions aimed at boosting production and returns. Speaking during a meeting with members of the National Assembly Coffee Caucus at his official residence in Karen, Kindiki projected that farmers would earn an estimated Ksh110 per kilogram of cherry this year almost double what they received when the Kenya Kwanza administration took over in 2022.
He attributed the increase to wide-ranging reforms that have streamlined the coffee sub-sector and removed bottlenecks that previously hindered profitability. The DP emphasized the government’s commitment to fulfilling the Kenya Kwanza manifesto, which prioritizes increasing incomes for farmers and enhancing the value chain.
“We have to ensure coffee farmers earn more and that coffee once again becomes a major foreign exchange earner. The Guaranteed Minimum Returns of Ksh100 per kilogram of cherry is being faithfully implemented,” Kindiki stated.
To consolidate these reforms, Kindiki called for the fast-tracking of the Coffee Bill, 2023, and the Cooperatives Bill, 2024, which are currently before the Senate. He noted that these bills are crucial to unlocking further improvements in the coffee sector.
In addition, the government is focused on providing farmers with quality seedlings, subsidized fertilizers, and modernized factory equipment. Kindiki noted that last-mile distribution of subsidized fertilizers had already demonstrated success in boosting production in other agricultural sectors such as maize and sugarcane.
The administration is also looking to expand coffee farming into non-traditional regions like Rift Valley, Western, Nyanza, and Lower Eastern, where the crop has shown potential. Further efforts aim to increase production per bush from the current 2kg to 10kg by 2027.
Members of Parliament from coffee-growing regions echoed the need for continued reforms. Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge highlighted the importance of eliminating conflicts of interest in the sector, while Gichugu MP Gichimu Githinji called for modernization of aging factory equipment.
With increasing awareness of financing options such as the Cherry Fund and enhanced research initiatives, stakeholders remain optimistic that Kenya’s coffee industry will regain its global prominence while ensuring farmers reap maximum benefits.
