By Sandra Blessing
Governors from the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB), MPs and farmers should seize the emerging opportunity by the government to revive coffee farming in the country to invest in the sector in order to open a new economic frontier.
The government, through New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union in collaboration with the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, plans to revive coffee through cooperative societies in a programme dubbed national coffee revival programme.
In a recent advert, they invited passionate community-rooted individuals to join an intensive Coffee Extension Champions training programme which will be ward-based and seeks to recruit 1,600 champions.
“This initiative aims to expand coffee production within the cooperatives movement from 51,852MT to 152,000MT. Listed wards within the following coffee-growing counties (two positions available per ward, one for a male and female applicants,” read the advert.
The counties from the LREB bloc include Kakamega, Kericho, Homa Bay, Busia, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nandi, Nyamira, Siaya, Vihiga and Bungoma.
Former Alego MP Sammy Weya challenged the region’s leadership to seize the opportunity and invest in coffee farming as the new economic frontier.
Weya said a tree of coffee is capable of earning a farmer Sh 24,000 a year and this would be a milestone in the region’s new economic dispensation.
“Coffee should be the new economic frontier in our region. I am happy to witness the kind of investments the governors from Rift Valley have placed in coffee growing in the region and I challenge our governors from Nyanza to learn from their colleagues,” he said.
Studies have shown that Western Kenya has the greatest potential for producing the highest quality of coffee and to spur economic growth in the region.
In one of the studies undertaken by experts hired by some emerging coffee farmers in Nyanza, it was revealed that the temperature and the soil in the region were best for coffee farming.
Weya said with temperatures of between 23 degrees centigrade and good soil, it only takes 10 days for seeds to germinate, unlike Central Kenya, where it takes 34 days.
“In Western Kenya, because the soil is slightly acidic, coffee cherries have a natural sugar taste, making it one of the best and high quality. This is an economic potential for Nyanza and Western to join the league of coffee-growing regions in the country,” he said.
Weya said that Homa Bay, Siaya, Kisumu, Kakamega, Busia and Migori counties have the potential of producing high-quality coffee to reverse the region’s economy.
He said an acre of coffee plantation will earn the farmer Sh 1 million and this can go a long way in addressing poverty in the region.
He said that already the following varieties — Ruiru II, SL 28 and Batian coffee — are being grown in the region.
Weya said the colonial government created a myth that coffee cannot grow well in Nyanza because of the fear of malaria attacks and opted to live in the White Highlands that were malaria-free.
**“It is simple knowledge that colonialists did not want to venture into Western Kenya to grow coffee because of the fear of malaria attack, and then developed a myth that the crop cannot grow in Nyanza. This myth has been debunked by various studies and the growth of the crop in the region.
Arabica coffee was not promoted in Nyanza because the colonialists were afraid of malaria and successive governments were never interested in promoting high-value cash crops in Nyanza, thus marginalising the community,”** he said.
Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) thrives in cool, tropical highlands with the following conditions: temperatures between 23 and 32 degrees centigrade day and night January to January, and an altitude above 1,200 metres above sea level. Loamy soils are slightly acidic, making the berries naturally sweet.
Weya said coffee can be grown in the upper canals and intercropped with legumes, macadamia and pawpaw to provide cover.
He said the government disbursed the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund, and Nyanza was left out despite the potential, and some farmers were already growing the cash crop.
**“Between 3rd February 2025 and 10th February 2025, New KPCU disbursed Sh 28,785,253.85 to 2,243 beneficiaries across 14 counties: Baringo County, Bungoma County, Kakamega County, Embu County, Kericho County, Kiambu County, Murang’a County, Machakos County, Meru County, Migori County, Tharaka Nithi County, Trans Nzoia County, Uasin Gishu County and Nyeri County, but Nyanza was left out.
Mumunyonzo FCS in Kakamega County applied for cherry advance for the first time and is the second FCS to benefit from cherry advance in the county. Ten farmers benefited from the cherry advance of Sh 366,880,”** he said.
Weya said it was unfortunate that despite agriculture being devolved, the local leadership has continued to sleep and is yet to take advantage of the emerging coffee farming opportunity.
He said Uganda, which shares common weather, rainfall patterns and soil types, has continued to grow coffee while Nyanza and Western — which neighbour it — are yet to venture into farming.
Former Nyakach MP Ochieng Daima said in the area, there are already farmers growing coffee, and the yield is high with huge earnings.
“Kabondo is one region in Nyanza where coffee has done well; even in Nyabondo, we have farmers growing it. It is time our people ventured into coffee farming. It is a high-value crop that will change the economy of Nyanza and Western region,” he said.
Weya said that through irrigation, Nyanza can sustain coffee farming, and this will be a milestone in revolutionising the local and national economy.
He said that currently, China has emerged as a leading coffee market, and Nyanza and Western farmers must be prepared to explore and exploit the opportunities.
“China’s coffee market is booming! Expected to hit $23 billion by 2032, with a 2.10% annual growth rate. Rising middle-class incomes and the demand for premium coffee are fuelling this surge. Coffee chains and online shopping are making it more accessible than ever,” he said.
