A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR NANDI COFFEE | SALE 26 AT THE NAIROBI COFFEE EXCHANGE
Tomorrow, April 14, 2026, marks a defining moment for Nandi County and for every coffee farmer who has been part of this journey. It is not just another sale at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange. It is the result of years of deliberate policy, institutional reform, and investment anchored on one principle: a strong, cooperative-led coffee economy.
For many years, coffee in Nandi existed with potential but without structure. Farmers operated individually, institutions were weak, and market access was fragmented. Value was created in Nandi but realized elsewhere.
That reality has now fundamentally changed.
Under the leadership of H.E. Governor Stephen K. Sang, the County Government adopted a clear policy direction: coffee must be built on strong cooperatives. This was not optional. It was a deliberate choice to ensure scale, bargaining power, quality control, and long-term sustainability.
Today, that decision defines the sector. From just 18 primary cooperatives, Nandi now has over 100 organized societies, federated under the Nandi Coffee Cooperative Union (NCCU). Through this structure, farmers are not just producers, but shareholders in aggregation, processing, and marketing.
If you are outside this cooperative ecosystem, it is difficult to fully appreciate the scale of progress that has been made. The transformation is institutional, and it is designed to last.
The County complemented this institutional reform with strategic investments. Over 8 million seedlings have been distributed to expand production. The Chebonet Coffee Mill in Tinderet was established and operationalized to ensure that Nandi coffee is processed within the County, retaining value at source.
The final step has been market access.
For years, Nandi coffee traded through external brokers due to licensing constraints. Tomorrow, that changes. Nandi Coffee Cooperative Union enters the Nairobi Coffee Exchange under Sale 26 with 10 lots and 290 bags. This is the County stepping into the market in its own name, as its own origin.
And the results are already speaking for themselves.
According to the latest 2025/2026 season data from the Nairobi Coffee Exchange:
Nandi County has recorded:
• Total Volume: 1,526,904 kilograms (25,102 bags)
• Total Value: USD 11.27 million (approximately KSh 1.45 billion)
• Average Price: USD 369 per 50-kg bag
In farmer terms, this translates to:
• About KSh 952 per kg of clean coffee
• About KSh 146 per kg of cherry gross
• About KSh 117 per kg directly to farmers after processing and marketing costs
These are strong returns, placing Nandi among the emerging high-value coffee regions outside Central Kenya.
The quality profile is equally compelling.
• AB grade: 47% of total production
• AA grade: 32%
• C grade: 11%
• PB grade: 6%
This means nearly 80% of Nandi coffee is premium grade (AA and AB), a clear signal of consistent quality and strong agronomic practices.
Price performance reinforces this position:
• AA averaged USD 388 per bag, peaking at USD 491
• PB averaged USD 369, outperforming AB at USD 365
Even the Mbuni segment, though smaller, contributed meaningfully:
• 45,347 kilograms valued at USD 217,809
• Average price of USD 240 per bag
This is not accidental. It is the outcome of a structured, cooperative-driven system that prioritizes quality, traceability, and collective market power.
And this is only the beginning.
The County is finalizing a Coffee Code of Practice that will anchor standards across production, processing, and marketing. Together with reforms in nursery certification, regulation of cherry handling, and enforcement of quality systems, this will position Nandi coffee for Geographical Indication recognition and premium global markets.
Nandi is no longer just participating in coffee. It is positioning itself.
From a County once on the margins of the coffee map, Nandi is now firmly establishing itself regionally, and steadily preparing for global recognition.
The trajectory is clear. From Nandi to Nairobi. From Nairobi to the world.
This is not just a sale. It is a signal of where the County is going.
Nandi is not only producing champions on the track. It is now producing champions in the cup.
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