The ongoing verification process of debts owed to coffee cooperative societies is a significant step in ensuring that only legitimate claims benefit from the Government’s Ksh 6.8 billion debt waiver initiative. This programme is part of broader reforms aimed at revitalising Kenya’s coffee sector, marking a key milestone in the Government’s commitment to supporting farmers.
In line with the Agriculture Sector reforms outlined in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto, these interventions are already yielding positive results. This coffee season, farmers are celebrating the highest cherry prices in 35 years, with rates soaring between Ksh 120 and Ksh 148 per kilogram. These record prices are a testament to the Government’s efforts to strengthen the sector and ensure farmers are adequately compensated for their hard work.
To sustain and build on these gains, the Government has introduced several initiatives, including a streamlined fertiliser subsidy programme, subsidised pesticides, and an accelerated distribution of coffee seedlings. These measures aim to increase productivity and enhance the quality of Kenya’s coffee.
Additionally, a major infrastructure modernisation plan is underway, focusing on upgrading processing methods across the country to improve the efficiency and quality of coffee production. New legislation, aimed at regulating both the coffee and cooperative sectors, is also in its final stages and is expected to be enacted within the next two months. These legislative changes are designed to foster transparency, protect farmers’ earnings, and strengthen cooperatives.
A significant achievement of the reforms has been the dismantling of cartels that previously manipulated milling, brokerage, and marketing operations. Freed from these exploitative middlemen, Kenya’s coffee is now being marketed more aggressively on the international stage, opening up new markets for farmers.
The momentum behind these reforms was evident during a major consultative forum in Embu County, attended by over 5,000 coffee farmers and key leaders. The Government remains committed to implementing transformative reforms that empower coffee farmers, boost their incomes, and restore Kenya’s position as a global coffee powerhouse.
