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Kenya’s coffee industry has registered strong growth in the 2025/26 season, with earnings at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) rising to Sh31.94 billion, driven by increased production and higher auction volumes. Kericho emerged as the country’s top coffee-producing county during the period.
According to NCE data up to Auction Sale 29, farmers sold 36.36 million kilogrammes of clean coffee worth $247.62 million (Sh31.94 billion). This marks a significant increase from the 31.33 million kilogrammes valued at $216.44 million (Sh27.92 billion) recorded during the entire 2024/25 season.
The latest figures show an increase of more than five million kilogrammes in coffee sales and nearly Sh4 billion in additional earnings, highlighting improved production and stronger returns for growers.
Kericho maintained its lead after selling six million kilogrammes of clean coffee worth Sh5.29 billion, nearly doubling the Sh2.61 billion earned during the previous season. The county also almost doubled its auction volumes from 3.03 million kilogrammes, overtaking Kirinyaga as Kenya’s leading coffee producer by both value and volume at the exchange.
Murang’a ranked second with 4.96 million kilogrammes sold for Sh4.33 billion, followed by Nyeri, which recorded 4.63 million kilogrammes valued at Sh4.18 billion.
Kirinyaga, long regarded as one of Kenya’s top coffee-growing counties, dropped to fourth place despite generating Sh4.31 billion from 4.61 million kilogrammes of coffee. Kiambu rounded out the top five with auction earnings of Sh3.46 billion.
The Rift Valley continued to expand its presence in the coffee sector, with Nandi placing sixth after selling 2.22 million kilogrammes worth Sh1.9 billion. Bungoma followed with Sh1.68 billion, while Embu earned Sh1.6 billion from coffee sold through the exchange.
Meru, Kisii and Nyamira also recorded strong performances, each bringing in hundreds of millions of shillings. Kisii’s earnings surged from Sh197.5 million to Sh888.4 million, while Nyamira’s revenue increased from Sh104.2 million to Sh588 million.
Other emerging coffee-producing counties, including Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Bomet, also posted notable gains, pointing to the continued expansion of coffee farming beyond the traditional Central Kenya region.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh said the strongest growth had come from the Rift Valley and western Kenya, noting that Nandi’s production rose by 92 per cent, Bungoma by 97 per cent, Kisii by more than four times, and Nyamira by nearly six times.
Meanwhile, Central Kenya’s share of coffee auction volumes declined from 62 per cent to 51 per cent, reflecting the growing contribution of other regions.
Not all counties recorded growth. Machakos, Tharaka Nithi, Nakuru, Homa Bay and Nairobi posted lower production and earnings compared to the previous season, while Busia, Vihiga, Kajiado, Taita Taveta and Siaya recorded no coffee sales through the exchange during the review period.
The figures cover only coffee traded through the Nairobi Coffee Exchange and exclude direct sales conducted under the Direct Settlement System (DSS).
Although the season is still ongoing, cumulative auction sales have already exceeded the total recorded during the entire 2024/25 season, with 36.36 million kilogrammes of clean coffee worth Sh31.94 billion sold so far.
Ronoh attributed the improved performance to higher production volumes, noting that while the average auction price eased slightly from $6.91 to $6.81 per kilogramme, the increase in volumes more than compensated for the decline in prices.
