Five counties fetch Sh16 billion from coffee

A section of coffee tree at Gatagua farmers cooperative society in Kahuro sub county, Murang'a county. March 15, 2025. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard]

Five leading coffee-producing counties have registered production of 19.2 million kgs of cherry, which attracted Sh16.9 billion in the first seven months of the coffee year 2024/2025.

Kirinyaga, Murang'a, Kiambu, Nyeri, and Kericho counties collectively produced 59 per cent of the country's total production, according to a report by the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE).

In the tabulation, Kirinyaga took the lead with a production auctioned at 5,487,120 kgs that fetched Sh4.9 billion, followed by Nyeri with 5,002,412 kgs that brought to the growers Sh4.4 billion.

Murang'a, on the other hand, produced 3,603,708 kgs that netted Sh3.2 billion, as Kiambu earned Sh2.1 billion, after the auction of 2,578,904 kgs, and Kericho sold 253,581 kgs that fetched Sh2.1 billion.

Kericho led the pack in the North Rift as Murang'a, Nyeri, Kiambu, and Kirinyaga produced and earned the highest in Central Kenya.

NCE CEO Lisper Ndung'u said premium grade AA registered an improvement across the counties, with Kiambu and Kericho showing the most dramatic increases from 24 per cent to 34 per cent in the current season.

"The AB grade continues to dominate production across all counties, with Kiambu reaching the highest proportion at 53 per cent in the season," said Ms Ndung'u.

Coffee value chain expert Henry Kinyua in the season, there was a general decrease in grade C in Kiambu, which dropped from 18 per cent to four per cent.

"Grade PB remains relatively consistent with modest fluctuations across regions," said Mr Kinyua.