The coffee industry in Kenya has undergone substantial reforms, with the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) leading efforts to ensure transparency and efficiency. CMA regulates coffee brokerage under the Coffee Exchange Regulations, 2020, aiming to safeguard farmers from unscrupulous middlemen and guarantee timely payments through a direct settlement system managed by licensed commercial banks.
At the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE), only CMA-licensed brokers are authorized to facilitate the sale of coffee on behalf of growers. As of 2023, the following coffee brokers are officially licensed to operate:
Licensed Coffee Brokers in Kenya:
- Meru County Coffee Marketing Agency Limited
- Kipkelion Brokerage Company Limited
- Murang’a County Coffee Dealers Company Limited
- United Eastern Kenya Coffee Marketing Agency
- Mt. Elgon Coffee Marketing Agency Limited
- Embu Coffee Farmers Marketing Agency Limited
- Kinya Coffee Marketing Agency Limited
- Alliance Berries Limited
- Kiambu Coffee Marketing Company
- Bungoma Union Marketing Agency Limited
- New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union PLC
- KCCE Marketing Agency Limited
- Baringo Kawa Brokerage Company Limited
- Meru South Coffee Marketing Company Limited
- Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage Company Limited
Role and Reforms in the Coffee Sector
These brokers act as intermediaries between farmers and buyers at the NCE. Their responsibilities include securing the best prices and managing payments through the new direct settlement system. The CMA’s reforms aim to reduce the mismanagement and corruption that previously plagued the coffee value chain, leading to delayed or diverted payments.
The regulatory overhaul, led in coordination with other government entities and the Coffee Subsector Reforms Implementation Standing Committee, emphasizes compliance with the Crops Act and the 2020 Coffee Exchange regulations. This includes licensing new brokers run by farmers through cooperatives, empowering local growers to sell directly at the NCE.
CMA Contact Information
- Head Office: Embankment Plaza, 3rd Floor, Longonot Road, off Kilimanjaro Avenue, Upper Hill, Nairobi
- Phone: +254 722 207767 / +254 20 2264000
- Email: corporate@cma.or.ke
These reforms reflect Kenya’s effort to revive the coffee industry by enhancing farmer benefits and market transparency. With several new brokerage companies licensed and operational, the sector is poised for more growth, especially with the involvement of cooperative societies across the country.
For further details on the current status of brokers and industry reforms, visit relevant updates from CMA and NCE.
