Coffee farmers in Kirinyaga County are celebrating record-high payouts for the 2024/2025 season, marking a major milestone in the ongoing coffee sector reforms spearheaded by the national and county governments.
Twenty-seven out of the county’s 75 wet mills have announced impressive payouts ranging between Ksh100 and Ksh145 per kilogram of cherry.
Leading the pack is Gacami Coffee Factory under the Baragwi Farmers Cooperative Society, which is paying Ksh145.10 per kilo.
Other top-performing factories include Karumandi (Ksh144.30), Mukure (Ksh144.25) and Mucagara (Ksh143.80).
The breakthrough comes days after President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki toured Central Kenya, where they reaffirmed their commitment to revamping agriculture under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Their message underscored agriculture as a pillar of Kenya’s economic recovery, a vision that is now visibly bearing fruit in Kirinyaga.
The reforms have unlocked new opportunities for smallholder farmers through direct market access, subsidized farm inputs, and enhanced training.
By eliminating exploitative middlemen and promoting farmer-owned cooperatives, the national government has significantly increased earnings for growers.
The county government has been equally instrumental.
Fourteen cooperative societies have registered the Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage Company Limited, now licensed by the Capital Markets Authority to operate as a broker at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange.
This has allowed farmers to sell their produce directly, bypassing costly intermediaries.
Governor Anne Waiguru lauded the intergovernmental collaboration, terming the payouts as “a testament to what can be achieved when all levels of government work together to prioritize farmers.”
“Our coffee farmers are finally enjoying the fruits of their labour,” said Waiguru.
“County-level interventions, from extension services and input delivery to cooperative strengthening are yielding results. When we support the farmer, everyone benefits.”
Farmers and cooperative leaders echoed the optimism.
Joyce Wanjiku, Chairperson of the Rungeto Farmers Cooperative Society, attributed the high returns to good agronomic practices and timely access to subsidized fertilizer.
“This is a clear sign that our hardworking farmers are being rewarded,” she said.
Baragwi Cooperative Manager Cyrus Chomba cited improved coffee quality and better auction prices, thanks to investments in solar dryers and timely deliveries to millers.
“We’ve cut costs and raised standards,” he said.
At Gacami Factory, Director Simon Muriithi praised the deployment of county agronomists and timely input distribution.
“Reduced production costs mean higher profits for our farmers,” he said.
So far, five cooperative societies, Baragwi, Kabare, Rungeto, Mwirua and New Ngariama have announced their payments.
The county government has also ensured the delivery of subsidized fertilizers to 28 factories across 14 cooperative societies.
Kirinyaga produces an average of 40,000 tons of coffee annually, earning farmers approximately Ksh2.8 billion.
Farmers like Josphat Gachoki of Gacami Factory say they are optimistic about the future.
“This is one of the best payouts we’ve ever received. We are hopeful this trend will continue.”
Lydiah Wanjira of Rungeto Cooperative added that access to training was helping farmers improve their techniques and yields.
“We’re adopting better practices and it’s paying off,” she said.
David Nyaga, also of Rungeto, noted that lower input costs had translated directly into higher returns.
“This year’s payout is very encouraging, and we hope it gets even better,” he said.
With both levels of government working in tandem, the coffee sector in Kirinyaga is steadily recovering, delivering on the promise of President Ruto and DP Kindiki’s reform agenda.