Nyeri County has emerged as the leading beneficiary of the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund, marking a major win for thousands of smallholder farmers who rely on coffee as their primary income source. According to the latest data from the New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (New KPCU), Nyeri farmers received the highest payout nationwide under the first tranche of the revamped fund, collectively securing more than Sh595 million. This payout—spread across 66,415 farmers—has provided immediate financial relief as growers await full payments from coffee sales, signaling renewed confidence in government-led reforms aimed at reviving the coffee sector.
The fund, which began official disbursement in January, followed a significant policy shift that saw the advance payment rate rise from Sh20 to Sh80 per kilogram of cherry delivered. Co-operatives and MSME Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui, speaking during a sensitization forum in Nyeri, credited the increase to a Cabinet decision that injected an additional Sh4 billion into the facility, bringing the total kitty to Sh6.7 billion. Under the revised structure, farmers now receive Sh40 immediately after delivering cherries to factories, and the remaining Sh40 after processing and delivery to millers—offering a predictable income stream during the harvesting season. The report also identifies Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Kericho, Murang’a, Embu and Machakos among other top beneficiaries, while counties such as Nakuru, Homa Bay and West Pokot recorded the lowest uptake so far.
Local cooperatives and farmer leaders have welcomed the development, saying the fund is already helping stabilize household incomes at a time when global coffee prices remain unpredictable. Many farmers at the Nyeri forum described the advance payments as a lifeline that allows them to meet immediate needs such as school fees and farm inputs without resorting to expensive loans. Sector analysts note that the strong uptake in Nyeri reflects the county’s long-standing role as a coffee powerhouse, and anticipate that sustained financing—along with ongoing modernization of cooperatives—could help restore Kenya’s coffee production to its former regional dominance. As government reforms continue to roll out, expectations are high that the revolving fund will not only cushion farmers but also stimulate broader economic growth across coffee-growing counties.