Farmers in Laikipia County are increasingly embracing coffee farming as a strategic shift from traditional practices such as livestock rearing, large-scale maize cultivation, and horticulture. The move aims to diversify agricultural production and boost household incomes in the semi-arid region.
Long reliant on livestock and staple crops like maize and wheat, Laikipia is now looking to emulate the success of neighboring Central Kenya highlands, renowned for their vibrant coffee industry. The transition is already yielding promising returns. Farmers report that each of their 600 coffee bushes earns them an average of Ksh800 per season, with five kilograms of cherry producing one kilogram of parchment.
Between 2022 and June 2025, over 23,000 coffee seedlings have been distributed across the county, including in Sossian, Githiga, Marmanet, Igwamiti, Ol Moran, and Ngobit wards. To support the growing interest, ten agricultural extension officers received specialized training in coffee production and management at the Coffee Research Institute (CRI) in June 2025.
The initiative is gaining momentum, with the number of registered coffee farmers rising from 398 in 2023 to 1,117 in 2025. Githiga Ward in Laikipia West Sub-county now leads with 624 active growers. Popular varieties under cultivation include Batian and Ruiru 11, both known for their drought tolerance and high yield potential.
According to the Laikipia County Department of Agriculture, investor interest is also rising, given the crop’s resilience in arid and semi-arid climates.
Kenya, once a top global coffee producer in the 1970s, has fallen to 20th position, behind regional players like Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania. However, renewed efforts in counties like Laikipia could signal a national resurgence.
New Kenya Cooperative Union Managing Director Timothy Mirugi, speaking at a recent event, emphasized strong global demand for Kenyan coffee. “We have already sold all deliveries from last season and are currently dispatching this season’s harvest,” he said.
With increasing farmer participation, institutional support, and robust market demand, Laikipia’s coffee sector is poised to play a key role in revitalizing the county’s agricultural economy.
Written By Rodney Mbua
