Nanyuki Hotel is one of the major hotels along the Nanyuki-Nyeri highway that attracts guests heading to the counties of Laikipia, Samburu and Isiolo. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard] The hospitality industry has continued to grow with dozens of new tourist hotels being built along the Mt Kenya circuit, replacing the facilities that were built decades ago. The expected dualing of the carriage highway – from Marua, Narumoru, Nanyuki, and Isiolo has seen the price of land skyrocket for areas near the highway. They are now trading at between Sh8 million and Sh10 million per acre. The existing hotels display Kenya’s cultural…
Author: By Boniface Gikandi
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua inspects some coffee bean varieties during the re-opening of the Nairobi Coffee Exchange Auction brokers’ maiden sale at Wakulima House, on August 15, 2023. [File, Standard] Kenya’s coffee market netted Sh553.1 million after the sale of 10,494 bags of coffee to 12 buyers at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE). The weekly market fetched better returns compared to last week’s Sh190.5 million. The NCE report detailed that in the weekly market farmers from cooperatives and estates offered 1,210 bags of AA that fetched Sh70.6 million and 4,253 bags of AB Sh232.3 million. Follow The Standard channel…
Coffee farmers sort out berries at a factory. [File, Standard] The coffee proceeds from the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) have continued to decline to Sh316.1 million after the sale of 5,818 bags. The payment to the farmers in cooperatives and estates in the weekly auction is lower compared to last week’s Sh376 million, where 7,887 bags were offered. In the NCE reports, eight coffee brokers led by Meru Cooperative Union and Alliance Berries Limited presented at the auction 2,124 bags and 1,546 bags of coffee to the 17 local and international buyers. Follow the The Standard channel on WhatsApp The…
President William Ruto and other leaders during the inspection of Ol Kalou affordable Housing Project at Ol Kalou town in Nyandarua County on January 11, 2024. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] The construction of affordable housing units in Ol Kalao town has excited the investors following the expected influx of more than 1,500 persons to the area. The Sh1.2 billion programme has engaged more than 500 employees from the locality daily, and is designed to impact the economy of the once sleepy town, through trading and supply opportunities. Presently, the majority of the public servants working in the town reside in Nyahururu,…
Farmers sort out coffee berries. [File, Standard] The coffee auction resumed on a low note after two months recess, with the estate and cooperative farmers earning Sh376 million after the auction of 7,887 bags at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE). NCE report reflects the sale generated less compared to Sh377.64 million from the sale of 6,650 bags on May 6 when the auction closed for recess. In the dealers category, the NCE CEO Lisper Ndung’u reported that 20 participated, led by Louis Dreyfus that bought 2,315 bags at Sh108 million, Ibero Kenya 1,726 bags for Sh79.2 million, Sasini 1,083 bags…
Published Date: 2025-07-09 14:36:40 Author: By Boniface Gikandi Source: The Standard
Tea farmers collect fertilizers distributed by Kenya Tea Development Authority(KTDA) at Nyambaria Tea Buying Center in Nyamira County. (Sammy Omingo, Standard) Tea exports declined by almost five million kilos in April from 37.9 million recorded in March due to wars in some of Kenya’s main export markets. In April, the country exported 33.91 million kilos against the production of 51.78 million kilos by the growers across the country. According to the Tea Board of Kenya, in April, tea was exported to 54 countries, with Pakistan buying 17,057,496 kilos. This is lower compared to the 21,641,140 kilos it bought in April last…
Published Date: 2025-07-03 18:53:49 Author: By Boniface Gikandi Source: The Standard
Farmers deliver tea leaves at to a lorry at Nyambaria tea buying center in Nyamira County, on April 15, 2025. [Sammy Omingo, Standard] Tea factories registered a slight increment in sales, earning Sh904.1 million, up from Sh902 million during this week’s tea auction in Mombasa. This follows the sale of 3.72 million kilos (kgs) of tea. A report by Tea Brokers East Africa Ltd shows that the factories that sold at the best prices include Githongo, which fetched Sh17 million, followed by Mununga Sh28.1 million, Imenti Sh14.6 million, Rukuriri Sh25.6 million and Gathuthi Sh23.5 million. Others are Kangathariri at Sh16.9 million,…
Tea farmers collect fertilizers distributed by Kenya Tea Development Authority(KTDA) at Nyambaria Tea Buying Center in Nyamira County. (Sammy Omingo, Standard) More than 102.92 million kilogrammes (kgs) of tea have been sold to 58 global markets between January and March this year through the Mombasa Tea Auction. Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) latest report said KTDA factories, independent producers and estates produced 37.9 million kgs, compared to 54.3 million in the previous year. The KTDA smallholder factories managed 20.4 million kgs and Nyayo Tea Zones 321,754 kgs. TBK Chief Executive Willy Mutai said the 10 best markets accounted for 78.9 per…
Tea farmers deliver their teal leaves to a lorry at Nyambaria tea buying center in Nyamira County. (Sammy Omingo, Standard) Tea factories affiliated with KTDA sold 5,418,918 kilogrammes last week, earning Sh1,137,972,780 at the Mombasa Tea Auction. The auction, held on 19th and 20th May, saw the following earnings from various tea factories: Mununga earned Sh26,747,490, Kimunye Sh19,767,600, Kathangariri Sh10,384,416, Kiegoi Sh21,260,800, Gathuthi Sh9,849,216, and Rukuriri Sh22,572,870. Gacharage factories earned Sh26,498,304 from the auction of 94,976 kg, followed by Ngere Tea Factory, which sold 77,495 kg for Sh21,388,620. Momul Factory, located in the western Rift, led with 129,540 kg sold…
Alice Waheto goes a bout her business at Iriaini Tea Factory in Othaya, Nyeri County on September 6,2016. Billions of shillings will be paid out to smallholder tea farmers as bonuses this year,while some have protested against poor payment of their produce and boycotted tea picking. [Kibatia Kihu/Standard] Rainforest Alliance audits and certifications have been suspended in all tea factories. Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr Kipronoh Rono, in a circular dated May 12, ordered the suspension of the multi-million programme after it emerged that the burden of implementation was bestowed on the smallholder tea factories. The review was aimed at easing the doing business in the tea…
French envoy to Kenya Arnaud Suquet, Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata and Equity Bank CEO James Mwangi at Nduti tea factory in Kandara, Murang’a, May 6, 2025. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard] Key stakeholders have shown interest in Kenya’s tea, with focus on utilisation of the Geographical Indications (GI), which will facilitate branding of the produce from Murang’a. The GI initiative, backed by the French embassy, Equity Bank and Murang’a county government will assist in branding Kenyan tea to attract premium prices. The delegation led by Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata, French envoy to Kenya Arnaud Suquet, and Equity Bank CEO James Mwangi toured…
Nairobi Coffee Exchange Chairman Kenneth Gitonga and Chief Executive Officer Lisper Ndung’u sample some coffee beans ahead of the weekly auction. [File, Standard] Farmers have earned Sh27,616,908,102 after the auction of 535,941 bags of coffee in the last five months. According to the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) during the auction period between October 2024 to April 2025, coffee weighing 32,156,472 kgs was bought by the local and international dealers. In the market, 15 coffee brokers participated with Alliance Berries Limited, Kirinyaga Slopes, KCCEand New KPCU leading the pack. The Alliance Berries, according to the report dated April 29, auctioned 206,146…
Cooperative Principal Secretary Patrick Kilemi during the launch of Unaitas Sacco fruit trees planting at Ikumbi Primary School in Kigumo, Murang’a, on May 2, 2025. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard] Cooperative Principal Secretary Patrick Kilemi has lauded Unaitas Sacco’s growth, which has seen it register 493,000 members. Speaking at Ikumbi Primary School in Kigumo, Murang’a County, when he launched the fruit trees planting drive, Kilemi said Unaitas Sacco was setting an example for other saccos. “I urge other saccos to visit Unaitas for benchmarking as it started with 4,000 members 32 years ago, and the membership has risen to 493,000,” said Kilemi.…
Nyeri nominated MCA Agnes Wanjiru speaking to the press a day after she lost a million shillings in a Murang’a town street after gang broke into her vehicle. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard] Residents of Murang’a have raised concerns over a gang that has been breaking into vehicles and stealing items. On Monday evening, Nyeri MCA Agnes Wanjiru was shocked after she found Sh1 million she had left in her vehicle was missing and a window broken. She said she visited Murang’a town in the company of her sister and withdrew Sh990,000 from the bank and kept it in her parked vehicle…
Peter Wambugu (left) and Kangema MP Peter Kihungi( right) Planting an apple seedling at Kiawambogo primary school in Rwathia. [Boniface Gikandi] Apple farming is taking root in Kangema, Murang’a County, with learning institutions being the experimental grounds. Kangema MP Peter Kihungi, who is behind the project, says the introduction of the fruit along the slopes of the Aberdare Range is a step towards a greener, more food-secure, and economically empowered society. Under the project, hundreds of apple seedlings have been distributed to primary schools within the constituency, where pupils are trained on how to nurture the fruit trees sourced from…
Murang’a County Assembly. [File, Standard] The Murang’a County Assembly leadership has been challenged to facilitate MCAs with internet-enabled devices to facilitate oversight. In a report of the ICT committee, the MCAs seek the adoption of technology to make the assembly paperless. The assembly also passed the proposal to have the revenue collectors be provided with internet-enabled gadgets to facilitate revenue collection. The report by the ICT committee Chairman, Moses Mirara, outlined that automation has helped to end the manipulation of public resources and safeguarded public land. In land management, the system provides a platform for automated generation and secure development…
A coffee farmer sorts out coffee berries at a coffee factory in Mathira, Nyeri County. [File, Standard] Coffee auction fetched Sh521,545,821 after the sale of 10,190 bags of coffee. The auction registered a decrease compared to last week’s sale of Sh684 million following the sale of 14,486 bags. The factories that achieved the highest prices for grade AA are Nyeri based Kamoni factory 61,113, Ichamara Sh60,594, Kiambara Sh59,297 marketed by the KCCE and Alliance Berries Limited. The reports from Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) indicate volumes at the auction have reduced as only 2,573 bags of quality coffee have been delivered…
A worker picks tea on a farm. [File, Standard] Small-scale tea holder factories fetched Sh1 billion after the sale of 4,403,251kg. In the market analysis, the Mununga tea factory sold 108,200kg, fetched Sh38.5 million, and Rukuriri tea factory 94,722kg for Sh29,174,376 at the rate of Sh356 and Sh308 per kilogramme, respectively. In the Tea Brokers East Africa Limited (TBEAL) report, Ngere factory sold 122,260kg and the highest which earned the growers Sh36,188,960. In the west of the rift, the Kobel tea factory was ranked the least after it sold 5,992kg for Sh838,880, while Momul tea factory led after the auction…
A coffee farmer sorts out coffee berries at a coffee factory in Mathira, Nyeri County. [File, Standard] Coffee farmers are up in arms over plans by the government to introduce a new coffee payment model. The growers say the change sponsored by the government is designed to sabotage the cooperative movement. Majority of the farmers say the decision by President William Ruto that they be paid from the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) five days after the weekly sale is ill-advised. Kabare farmers cooperative society Chairman Cyrus Njogu said the decision, if implemented, will sabotage the coffee sector, as majority of…
Nanyuki Affordable Housing project is expected to meet the housing demand in the region, on March 22, 2025. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard] The majority of the affordable housing projects initiated by the government across the Mt Kenya region are nearing completion. Despite criticism over the implementation of the multi-million-shilling housing programmes, reports indicate the units are overbooked. These are some of the projects that President William Ruto on a tour of Mt Kenya region, will inspect. The projects that have impressed the public are in Nanyuki, Gichugu and Makeji, with hundreds of people having booked them through the Boma Yangu portal. In…