Nyandarua County is positioning itself to join Kenya’s coffee-growing regions as both county and national governments roll out plans to introduce the crop in the area, in a move aimed at boosting farmers’ incomes and expanding national production.
Principal Secretary for Cooperative Development and SMEs Patrick Kilemi, alongside Nyandarua Governor Dr. Moses Kiarie Badilisha, said the county has demonstrated strong interest in coffee farming and urged local farmers to adopt the crop as a viable economic activity to enhance livelihoods and support agricultural diversification.
The two leaders spoke during a sensitization and capacity-building forum held in the Ndogino area of Leshau Pondo, Ndaragwa Constituency. The meeting brought together farmers, government officials, and key stakeholders to explore opportunities within the coffee sector and outline available support mechanisms.
Organized by the Department of Agriculture in partnership with the New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union and local farmers, the forum also highlighted the role of the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund (CCARF), which offers affordable credit to farmers to support production and improve yields.
Kilemi noted that the National Coffee Revival Programme (NCRP) is anchored on increasing production both vertically and horizontally, explaining that vertical expansion focuses on improving yields from existing coffee bushes, while horizontal expansion targets the introduction of coffee farming in new frontier areas such as Nyandarua.
He assured farmers of the national government’s commitment to support the initiative through technical assistance, access to farm inputs, and enabling policy frameworks to ensure successful adoption of the crop across the county.
Governor Badilisha, who was accompanied by Leshau Pondo Ward MCA Gathungu Kamau, described the move as a major milestone in advancing agribusiness in Nyandarua. He said coffee farming would complement existing crops under the county’s diversification programme, including pyrethrum, avocado, and apples.
The governor emphasized that coffee will not replace pyrethrum as the county’s main cash crop but will instead provide an additional income stream for farmers, noting that diversification remains key to reducing risk and strengthening resilience among farming communities.
To support the rollout, the county government plans to distribute free coffee seedlings and establish nurseries for farmer groups. It also intends to invest in value addition by setting up a coffee factory and installing a milling machine once production reaches sustainable levels.
