Kenya's coffee sector has posted strong growth in the 2025/26 season, with earnings from the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) rising to Sh31.94 billion as Kericho emerged as the country's leading coffee-producing county.
Data from the NCE covering sales up to Auction Sale 29 shows farmers sold 36.36 million kilogrammes of clean coffee valued at $247.62 million (Sh31.94 billion), up from 31.33 million kilogrammes worth $216.44 million (Sh27.92 billion) recorded during the entire 2024/25 season.
The figures represent an increase of more than five million kilogrammes of coffee and nearly Sh4 billion in earnings, reflecting improved production and stronger returns for farmers.
Kericho retained the top position after selling six million kilogrammes of clean coffee valued at Sh5.29 billion, almost double the Sh2.61 billion earned during the previous full season.
The county nearly doubled its auction volumes from 3.03 million kilogrammes, overtaking Kirinyaga to become the country's leading coffee-producing county by both volume and value at the exchange.
Murang'a ranked second after delivering 4.96 million kilogrammes worth Sh4.33 billion, while Nyeri came third with 4.63 million kilogrammes valued at Sh4.18 billion.
Kirinyaga, traditionally among Kenya's top coffee-growing counties, slipped to fourth position despite earning Sh4.31 billion from 4.61 million kilogrammes. Kiambu completed the top five with sales worth Sh3.46 billion.
The Rift Valley continued to strengthen its position in coffee production, with Nandi recording sales of 2.22 million kilogrammes valued at Sh1.9 billion to rank sixth nationally.
Bungoma followed with earnings of Sh1.68 billion, ahead of Embu, which realised Sh1.6 billion from coffee auction sales.
Meru, Kisii and Nyamira also posted strong performances, each generating hundreds of millions of shillings from coffee sold through the exchange.
Among the counties recording the sharpest gains were Kisii, whose earnings increased from Sh197.5 million to Sh888.4 million, and Nyamira, where revenue rose from Sh104.2 million to Sh588 million.
Several traditionally smaller coffee-growing counties, including Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Bomet, also recorded notable increases, signalling expanding coffee production beyond Central Kenya.
"The most striking growth has been recorded in the Rift Valley and western regions, with Nandi up 92 per cent, Bungoma 97 per cent, Kisii more than fourfold and Nyamira nearly sixfold," said Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh.
The traditional Central Kenya coffee belt saw its share of auction volumes decline from 62 per cent to 51 per cent.
Some counties, however, recorded lower production and earnings. Machakos, Tharaka Nithi, Nakuru, Homa Bay and Nairobi all posted lower sales compared with the previous season.
Busia, Vihiga, Kajiado, Taita Taveta and Siaya recorded no coffee sales at the exchange during the period under review.
The data covers only coffee traded through the NCE and excludes direct sales conducted under the Direct Settlement System (DSS).
With the season still in progress, cumulative sales at the NCE have already surpassed the entire 2024/25 season, with 36.36 million kilogrammes of clean coffee worth Sh31.94 billion sold so far.
"Growth has been volume-led, with the average realised price easing marginally from USD 6.91 to USD 6.81 per kilogramme, a decline that has been more than offset by higher throughput," Ronoh said.
