Uasin Gishu Expands Coffee Acreage With 157,000 Seedlings Distributed in Turbo

Uasin Gishu County has stepped up efforts to expand coffee production after Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim launched the distribution of 157,000 quality seedlings to farmers in Turbo Sub-County.

The seedlings are expected to establish about 157 acres of new coffee farms as the county implements its one-million coffee seedling programme for 2026.

The distribution exercise was launched at Tiret Hospital and Leseru Chief’s Office on Wednesday. It builds on more than 1.2 million coffee seedlings previously distributed to farmers across Uasin Gishu.

Bii said the county’s coffee programme would focus on more than increasing the number of trees planted. The administration plans to strengthen farmer training, agricultural extension, cooperative development, processing and value addition.

“We are committed to moving beyond seedling distribution by strengthening the entire coffee value chain,” the governor said.

Under the programme, each coffee cooperative will receive support to acquire a coffee pulper. The equipment is expected to improve post-harvest handling and coffee quality while increasing local processing capacity.

The county government said the initiative will allow farmers to retain more value from their coffee instead of relying solely on the sale of raw produce.

Deputy Governor Evans Kapkea said the county has also been exposing farmers and cooperative leaders to practices used in established coffee-growing areas.

He said farmers and cooperative leaders had benchmarked in Kiambu County, where they learned about coffee production, processing, value addition, cooperative management and marketing.

Uasin Gishu currently has about 1,200 hectares under coffee. The county sees further room for expansion as farmers seek alternative commercial crops with potential to generate higher household incomes.

In Soy Sub-County, coffee farmers generated more than KSh50 million in sales in 2025. County officials say the performance demonstrates the growing economic potential of coffee outside Kenya’s traditional production zones.

The latest seedling distribution is being implemented across all six sub-counties under the county’s 2026 coffee programme, themed “Brewing Prosperity: Enhancing the Coffee Value Chain for Sustainable Economic Empowerment.”

The programme forms part of Governor Bii’s Nguzo Kumi development agenda, with agriculture identified as its first pillar.

The county’s approach also places emphasis on strengthening farmer organisations. Better-equipped cooperatives could improve the handling, processing and marketing of coffee while helping farmers participate more effectively in the value chain.

The expansion comes at a time when Kenyan coffee farmers continue to seek better returns through improved quality, processing and marketing. Increasing production will therefore need to be matched with effective extension services and reliable market access if the additional acreage is to translate into higher farmer incomes.

With the latest 157,000 seedlings, Uasin Gishu is positioning coffee as an increasingly important commercial crop while seeking to build a local value chain capable of supporting farmers beyond the initial planting stage.