Cooperatives and MSMEs CS Wycliffe Oparanya
Nairobi forum connects farmers to global buyers as the government pushes to sharpen the competitiveness of East African coffee
By MKT Reporter
Kenya is stepping up efforts to secure new international markets for its coffee as the country seeks to increase earnings from one of its most valuable cash crops.
Stakeholders across the coffee value chain convened in Nairobi this week to explore trade, investment, and buyer partnerships aimed at strengthening East African coffee’s position in global markets and improving returns for the thousands of smallholder farmers who depend on the crop for their livelihoods.
The forum also serves as the launch pad for the East Africa Coffee Markets and Conference 2026, which organisers hope will draw fresh investment and expand trade opportunities across the region.
Patrick Kilemi, Principal Secretary for Cooperatives, struck an ambitious tone. “By connecting farmers directly to markets and fostering practical engagement across the value chain, this conference aligns perfectly with the government of Kenya’s vision for a vibrant, competitive, and farmer-centred coffee industry,” he said. “We must place great emphasis on value addition, branding, and market differentiation.”
Bernadette Murgor, founder of Smart Farmer Africa, pointed to persistent knowledge gaps among producers. “We want our farmers to learn about the latest technologies, what is happening in the market, and what buyers are looking for,” she said. “There are farmers in the West Rift region who do not yet fully understand the best coffee-growing practices, and we want to give producers an opportunity to learn and improve.”
For Kenya’s smallholder farmers, the stakes could not be higher.
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