Governor Simba Arati has flagged off 100,000 certified coffee seedlings for distribution to farmers across Kisii County, marking the county’s largest single seedling handover as part of the national government’s coffee sector revival programme.

The flag-off ceremony, held at the Kisii Agricultural Training Centre, saw hundreds of farmers from the county’s 22 coffee cooperative societies gather to receive the improved seedlings. The distribution forms part of a nationwide initiative led by the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs, implemented through the New Kenya Planters’ Cooperative Union, which targets the delivery of 20 million certified coffee seedlings annually across the country.

Governor Arati said the seedlings would help replace ageing, low-yielding trees that have kept production far below potential for decades. He urged farmers to plant promptly and follow recommended agronomic practices to maximise returns.

The seedlings distributed in Kisii include high-performing varieties such as Ruiru 11 and Batian, which are known for their resistance to Coffee Berry Disease and Coffee Leaf Rust, two fungal infections that have devastated Kenyan coffee farms for generations. The improved genetics allow farmers to spend less on fungicides while harvesting significantly more cherries per tree.

The national revival programme aims to boost productivity from an average of about two kilograms to as much as 20 kilograms per coffee tree. For a smallholder farmer with 500 trees, that difference means moving from one tonne of cherries annually to 10 tonnes, transforming household income from subsistence levels to a substantial surplus.

Kisii County is home to 80 active cooperative societies with nearly 60,000 members, covering coffee, tea, multipurpose, and savings and credit operations. The county’s 22 coffee cooperatives operate under the Gusii Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, which handles milling and marketing for member societies. However, many of these societies have struggled with poor governance, debt, and dilapidated infrastructure.

Governor Arati’s administration has committed to revitalising 56 coffee factories and rehabilitating coffee cooperative societies as part of its broader agricultural agenda. The county’s 2025 sector working group report includes specific allocations for establishing Blue Mountain seedling nurseries and providing extension support to farmers receiving the new trees.

The national distribution drive has already reached over 11,000 registered farmers across 17 counties, with more than 1.4 million seedlings delivered as of May 2026. By the end of the current planting season, officials project that number will rise to approximately 1.7 million seedlings. Nationally, the programme targets over 200,000 farmers.

New KPCU Managing Director Timothy Mirugi has confirmed that the programme is delivering measurable results, with structural reforms, direct farmer payments, and subsidised inputs beginning to show returns. The initiative focuses on eliminating exploitative intermediaries that have historically siphoned value away from growers while ensuring farmers receive timely payments for their cherries.

For Kisii’s coffee farmers, the arrival of 100,000 seedlings represents both opportunity and responsibility. The trees will take two to three years to reach full production, requiring patience and consistent management. But if the productivity projections hold, a farmer who plants 500 trees today could be harvesting 10 tonnes of cherries annually by 2029, earning significantly more than the current average.

County executive committee members for agriculture and cooperatives were present at the flag-off, along with representatives from the Gusii Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union. Officials confirmed that extension officers would conduct follow-up visits to farmers who receive seedlings, providing technical support on planting, pruning, pest management, and harvesting.

The coffee revival initiative extends beyond seedling distribution. The national government has also moved to clear historical debts owed to farmers, streamline cooperative governance, and secure better prices through direct marketing channels. For Kisii farmers who have watched their industry decline for three decades, the combination of new trees and policy reforms offers the most credible path to recovery seen in years.