Speech by Alfred Gitau Mwaura at the endorsement party of Kenya Coffee School in Thika by TAAPPSTORE
🎤 SPEECH: Kenya’s Youth at the Heart of a Pan-African Coffee Revolution
By Alfred Gitau Mwaura
Founder, Kenya Coffee School | GOOD Trade Certification | Barista Mtaani
Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests, Fellow Innovators, and Young Leaders,
For decades, Kenya has been admired around the world for its high-quality coffee — coffee that has shaped global specialty markets and delighted millions of consumers across continents.
But for too long, our nation has been viewed only as a producer — valued for the farms, the cherries, and the raw beans we export, but not for the brilliance, innovation, and talent of our people.
Today, I stand before you to say: that era is over.
A New Narrative for Kenya
Just as the world respects M-Pesa for transforming financial systems, and celebrates Kenyan athletes for dominating global races, it’s time for the world to recognize Kenya as a leader in coffee innovation, manufacturing, and value addition.
We are not just growers — we are thinkers, creators, builders, and innovators. And at the center of this transformation is one powerful force: our youth.
Trusting the Youth With Innovation
Kenya’s youth are not waiting for the future — they are building it right now.
They are tech-savvy, ambitious, creative, and full of energy. But many of them face unnecessary and expensive barriers that prevent them from fully participating in the coffee value chain — barriers like costly licenses, outdated policies, and limited access to technology.
We must trust our youth with the tools of value addition, roasting, technology, and manufacturing. When we remove these barriers, we unlock a new wave of economic growth, innovation, and job creation that will transform the coffee sector from the inside out.
Youth-Led Roasting: Completing the Value Chain
Imagine a Kenya where young people roast coffee on behalf of farmers, package it locally, market it internationally, and build strong coffee brands with pride.
This model is simple but powerful:
- Farmers earn better prices for roasted, branded coffee.
- Youth gain meaningful jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities.
- Kenya captures more value here at home, instead of exporting it away.
This is not just a dream — it’s already happening through initiatives like Barista Mtaani and 4A Coffee Roasters, where we are training, equipping, and empowering youth to lead the coffee revolution.
Optimizing Policies for Real Impact
To make this vision sustainable, our policies must evolve. We need:
- Affordable licensing for youth-led roasting and processing businesses.
- Shared roasting hubs and innovation spaces across counties.
- Access to finance, technology, and global markets.
- And above all, recognition of youth as key players in the coffee value chain.
These are not favors — they are strategic investments in our country’s future. Because when youth thrive, Kenya thrives.
A Pan-African Coffee Movement
Friends, this journey is bigger than Kenya. It is part of a Pan-African Coffee Movement — a movement to take back ownership of our coffee value chains, to innovate boldly, and to build strong African coffee brands that the world respects.
Africa grows some of the best coffee on the planet. Now is the time for Africa to process, roast, package, and export finished products proudly under African names.
Together, farmers, youth, governments, private sector, and innovators can build a continental coffee ecosystem that creates jobs, sustains communities, and inspires future generations.
Conclusion: Kenya’s Time is Now
Ladies and gentlemen,
Kenya’s story is changing. Our youth are ready. The technology is here. The world is watching.
Let’s trust our youth, remove the barriers, support innovation, and lead Africa into a new era of coffee excellence.
This is not just about coffee — it’s about dignity, opportunity, and economic transformation.
A Pan-African Coffee Revolution has begun — and Kenya is leading the way.
Thank you.
Asante Sana.