Kenya’s Coffee Cooperatives Launch Direct Export Platform to EU Buyers

Kenya’s coffee cooperatives have launched Kilimanjaro Direct, a digital export platform connecting 200 cooperatives directly to European roasters, bypassing the Nairobi Coffee Exchange. Supported by the Coffee Board and Fairtrade Africa, the platform offers real-time pricing, quality certification, and logistics coordination. In Q1 2024, it facilitated Ksh2.1 billion in sales, with farmers receiving 85% of export value—up from 50% via auction. Cooperatives in Nyeri, Kirinyaga, and Murang’a lead adoption. The initiative empowers smallholders and aligns with Kenya’s coffee reforms to boost global competitiveness and farmer incomes.