KENYA COFFEE TRAINING CENTRE & ARABIKA PROJECT: ADVANCING KENYA’S COFFEE INDUSTRY
The Kenya Coffee Training Centre and the ARABIKA Project have marked a significant transformation in Kenya’s coffee sector, enhancing skills, quality, sustainability, and market access.
These initiatives, funded by the Italian Government through AICS and implemented by UNIDO, CEFA, AVSI Foundation, and E4IMPACT, have played a pivotal role in empowering 30,000 smallholder farmers across seven counties.
As the ARABIKA Project concludes, it leaves behind a strong foundation for sustainable coffee production and value addition. Through interventions in quality improvement, climate-smart practices, cooperative governance, digitization, and branding, the project has strengthened Kenya’s coffee industry, ensuring its competitiveness in global gourmet markets.
It’s Key Achievements include:
78 extension officers trained in climate-smart coffee production
151 young service providers equipped with specialized technical skills
53 factory technicians trained in sustainable processing and composting
The occasion also marked the soft launch of the Kenya Coffee Training Centre, a state-of-the-art facility designed to enhance skills, quality control, and market competitiveness in the coffee industry.
Funded by the Italian Government and International Cooperation and implemented by UNIDO, the centre is set to transform coffee education and value addition.
It’s core mandate will include:
Roasting & Grinding – Enhancing flavor profiles and quality
Cupping & Quality Assessment – Sensory evaluation for specialty coffee
Packaging & Branding – Adding value for premium market positioning
Café & Brewing Lab – Hands-on training in coffee preparation and barista skills
Conference & Training Facilities – A platform for industry engagement
The event was graced by Hon. John Mutunga, Chairperson of the National Assembly Agricultural Standing Committee, alongside senior government officials, development partners, and industry leaders. Ms. Lorenzo Gambacorta, Chargée d’Affaires at the Embassy of Italy in Nairobi, reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to strengthening Kenya’s coffee sector.
This success has been made possible through the collaboration of:
Government of Kenya (GoK)
Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS)
UNIDO, CEFA, AVSI Foundation, E4IMPACT
County Governments & Coffee Cooperatives
Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT)
Kenya’s hardworking coffee farmers!
As these projects take root, their legacy will continue shaping the future of Kenyan coffee, empowering farmers, fostering sustainability, and positioning Kenya as a leading global supplier of high-quality, specialty coffee. #BETAMKULIMA#MkulimaKwanza