As opposed to livestock rearing, large-scale maize farming, and horticulture, farmers in Laikipia County are embracing coffee farming as a way to diversify their agricultural practices and boost household incomes.
Traditionally reliant on livestock and staple crops like maize and wheat, Laikipia a semi-arid county is now venturing into coffee cultivation, aiming to match the success of neighboring Central Kenya highlands known for their thriving coffee industry.
Farmers say that five kilos of cherry yield one kilo of parchment, with each of the 600 coffee bushes earning them an average of Sh800 between October 2024 and the current season’s early harvest. This transition is already proving fruitful, both economically and in terms of long-term sustainability.
Between 2022 and June 2025, a total of 23,000 coffee seedlings had been distributed to farmers across the county, with more expected to reach areas including Sossian, Githiga, Marmanet, Igwamiti, Ol Moran, and Ngobit wards. To support the initiative, ten agricultural extension officers underwent specialized training on coffee production and management at the Coffee Research Institute (CRI) in June.
The shift to coffee farming is drawing considerable interest, even from investors, as the crop demonstrates strong potential in Laikipia’s arid and semi-arid conditions.
According to the Laikipia County Department of Agriculture, the number of coffee farmers has surged from 398 in 2023 to 1,117 in 2025, with Githiga Ward in Laikipia West Sub-county alone recording 624 active growers. The main coffee varieties being cultivated are Batian and Ruiru 11, both known for their resilience and high yields.
Kenya, once a global leader in coffee production during the 1970s, has since slipped to 20th place, overtaken by regional neighbors such as Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Côte d’Ivoire. However, the renewed push in counties like Laikipia may signal a comeback.
New Kenya Cooperative Union Managing Director, Timothy Mirugi, speaking at a recent event, said demand for Kenyan coffee remains high. “We have already sold all deliveries from last season and are currently dispatching this season’s harvest,” he noted.
With increasing farmer participation, institutional support, and growing demand, Laikipia’s coffee sector may well be on its way to revitalizing the county’s agricultural economy.
