The National Coffee Cooperative Union (NACCU) welcomes the renewed focus on Kenya’s coffee sector following the Presidential Town Hall on Agriculture and Food Security held at Jamhuri Park, Nairobi, on Thursday, 8 October 2026.
During the engagement, NACCU Chairman Felix Mwai thanked President William Ruto for the reforms undertaken in the coffee sector and highlighted the importance of sustaining the transformation agenda to improve farmers’ livelihoods, strengthen marketing systems and enhance the global competitiveness of Kenyan coffee.
A key outcome of the discussion was the President’s directive to the Ministry of Agriculture to facilitate the establishment of a world-class coffee quality analysis laboratory at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE). The President directed that KSh 100 million be mobilised for the initiative and set a six-month deadline for its implementation.
The proposed laboratory is expected to strengthen quality assessment and support the marketing of Kenya’s specialty coffee in premium international markets.
Strengthening Transparency and Farmer Confidence
The discussions also addressed the timing and transparency of payments to coffee growers. During the engagement, the NCE indicated that proceeds reach a grower’s account within five days after a sale is completed.
Greater visibility into coffee sales and payment processes is an important part of building farmer confidence in the marketing system. Continued implementation of transparent trading and settlement arrangements will be essential in ensuring that the benefits of sector reforms reach coffee-growing communities.
Sustaining the Coffee Reform Agenda
NACCU recognises the importance of collaboration among the Government, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Nairobi Coffee Exchange, cooperative institutions and farmers in delivering meaningful and lasting reforms.
The proposed laboratory, specialty coffee auction and digital trading platform represent important opportunities to strengthen Kenya’s position in the global coffee market. Their success will depend on timely implementation, internationally credible quality assessment, accessible marketing channels and effective participation by smallholder farmers and their cooperatives.
As the national umbrella organisation representing coffee cooperative unions, NACCU remains committed to advocating for policies and systems that improve market access, strengthen cooperative participation and enable farmers to capture greater value from the coffee they produce.
For Kenya’s coffee farmers, the priority is clear: translate policy commitments into practical improvements in coffee quality, market opportunities and farmer earnings.