Kenya to Open Coffee Auctions to Global Buyers in Bold Move to Boost Farmer Earnings

(3 Minutes Read)

In a significant policy shift aimed at empowering coffee farmers and increasing transparency in pricing, Kenya will soon allow international buyers to participate directly in its local coffee auctions. This landmark reform, announced by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe, is expected to ensure that Kenyan coffee farmers receive fairer compensation for their produce by aligning local farmgate prices with international market rates.

Speaking in Nyeri on Saturday, Kagwe emphasised the need to modernise Kenya’s coffee value chain by embracing a more inclusive and competitive market system. The reform is being championed in collaboration with Cooperatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya.

“It is unjust to exclude global buyers who are ready to offer better prices. By opening the market, we’ll uplift the entire value chain and ensure our farmers benefit from their hard work,” Kagwe asserted.

The CS highlighted that Kenya’s upgraded digital infrastructure now supports secure and transparent online auctions, making it feasible for international players to participate remotely. “Coffee auctions can no longer be the preserve of a few individuals. They must now be open to the entire international market,” he added.

This announcement comes at a time when the Kenyan coffee industry is on an upward trajectory. In the 2023–2024 season, clean coffee production reached 49,501 metric tonnes. Meanwhile, the average cherry price rose to KSh 81.05 per kilogram, reflecting increased demand and improved farmer earnings.

According to data from the Nairobi Coffee Exchange, farmers earned KSh 27.6 billion between October 2024 and April 2025 from the auction of 535,941 bags of coffee—approximately 32 million kilos—sold to both local and international buyers.

During the same period, 15 licensed brokers facilitated sales at the auction. Alliance Berries Limited led the market, selling 206,146 bags of coffee worth KSh 10.77 billion, representing 36.46% of the total auctioned coffee.

Read Also;

https://trendsnafrica.com/africa-strategize-to-become-a-leading-coffee-exporter/

The planned inclusion of global buyers is being seen as a transformative step to democratise access to the coffee market, eliminate middlemen who suppress farmer incomes, and enhance the overall competitiveness of Kenyan coffee on the world stage. As this reform takes shape, stakeholders in the coffee sector are hopeful that it will lead to higher earnings, greater transparency, and sustainable growth in one of Kenya’s most important agricultural exports.