The Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, in partnership with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), has introduced a new bean variety, Waithera, which is already generating excitement among farmers for its high yields, drought tolerance, and consumer-friendly qualities.
During a monitoring session on Nyota bean production in Nyeri County, farmers shared success stories from the Nyota variety and expressed strong interest in adopting Waithera.
Bred at KALRO, Waithera retains the desirable characteristics of the popular Wairimu bean but produces less gas, cooks faster, and has a sweeter taste. It is also high-yielding and adaptable to various growing conditions.
Dr. David Karanja, National Coordinator for Grain Legumes at KALRO, said the bean was developed to address farmer and consumer needs.
“The Waithera variety retains the desirable characteristics of the Wairimu bean but is specifically bred to produce less gas, offering a more comfortable consumption experience. The bean cooks fast, is sweet when cooked, has a low flatulent level, and contains medium levels of zinc and iron,” he said.
Dr. David Karanja, National Coordinator for Grain Legumes at KALRO
KALRO is piloting Waithera through an inclusive seed demand strategy, using champion farmers to distribute seed to the “last mile.” These farmers also help identify local seed needs, coordinate bulk aggregation for better prices, and facilitate collection, sorting, weighing, and storage.
In Narumoru, Kieni East, farmers trained by KALRO have been producing high-yielding beans in large volumes. Dr. Karanja said the approach has worked well for Nyota beans, introduced in 2021, which yield between 6–10 90-kg bags per acre, mature early (60–70 days), and are drought-tolerant.
“From 1 kg of Nyota beans, a farmer gets 26 kg, while for the Waithera bean, a farmer will get twice that and harvest 55 kg,” he said
Farmer testimonies from the pilot have been enthusiastic. “I got one kilo of the Waithera variety from the Agriculture officer in September last year. I was able to plant a half kilo, from which I harvested 20 kgs. I then went ahead and planted one and three-quarters kgs and harvested over 100 kgs,” said Rebecca Waruguru from Gatuanyaga, one of the farmers who has planted the variety. She added that the taste surpassed that of Wairimu beans and had no gas. Another farmer, Agnes Nyaguthii, harvested 150 kg from 4 kg of Waithera seed and said she was eager to share the variety with neighbours.
The Waithera bean has also performed well in Nakuru, Bomet, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties. “Bomet is ahead of most of the other counties because farmers embraced it, and I want to encourage farmers to work in groups for maximum production and ensure farmers in their locality and neighbourhood grow it before selling far,” Dr. Karanja said.
Agnes Mwangi, an Agriculture Officer in Kieni sub-location, said Nyota beans had already transformed local farming, with around 4,000 households growing them. The Waithera variety, she noted, is now attracting similar interest.
Monitoring bean farming in Kieni, Nyeri County
“The Waithera bean is not very common in all farms; it is only with a few individual farmers but when we initially got it and planted, farmers were able to produce more and cannot wait to get even more seeds,” she said.
Dr. Karanja explained that Waithera’s plant structure differs from Nyota’s, allowing it to continue producing with adequate nutrients and water. He added that breeder seed production has been completed, with basic seed underway, and that by next year, there should be an adequate supply for farmers nationwide.
Bean farming is the second most important food crop activity in Kenya after maize, and KALRO’s development of high-yielding, nutritious, and climate-smart varieties like Nyota and Waithera is poised to boost farmer incomes, improve household nutrition, and strengthen the country’s food security.
