Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru revealed plans to establish direct coffee exports to the United States, with a new coffee house set to open in New York on March 16. The initiative involves a New York-based firm sourcing 4 tonnes weekly from local farmers, targeting an average price of Sh120 per kilogramme.
Waiguru highlighted the economic potential during the sixth devolution conference at Kirinyaga University, stating, "If we succeed, our farmers will have struck a gold mine, with their years of labor now handsomely rewarded." She noted that Kirinyaga coffee ranked among the world’s best, with two cooperative societies placing 4th and 24th globally in quality assessments.
The governor also outlined agricultural diversification efforts, including the county’s status as the nation’s largest tomato producer, generating 54,000 tonnes annually. A processing plant in Kangai Ward will address waste and create youth employment opportunities. Rice farmers are benefiting from technology converting husks into hardboard, transforming a previous waste product into an income source.
Waiguru emphasized the county’s people-driven development model, citing the installation of a CT scan machine at Kerugoya County Referral Hospital through devolution funding. The conference, ongoing at Kirinyaga University, features discussions on public-private partnerships and regional development challenges.
