AFA licenses 152 coffee dealers for 2025/26 season under Kenya’s coffee sector regulations

The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has licensed 152 coffee dealers for the 2025/26 financial year, in line with Kenya’s coffee sector regulations.

In a statement released Tuesday, August 26, AFA Director General Bruno Linyuru confirmed the approvals include 126 coffee buyers, 15 warehousemen, and 11 agents.

The authority clarified that only the gazetted dealers are legally recognized as exporters, refuting reports that 10 companies had been granted exclusive export licenses.

“AFA wishes to inform the public that registration of coffee dealers in the country is an ongoing process undertaken within the confines of the law. Dealers must be gazetted through a Kenya Gazette Notice, which also gives the public 14 days to raise objections,” the statement read.

The authority stressed that under the Crops Act, 2013, and the Crops (Coffee) (General) Regulations, 2019, all entities exporting coffee from Kenya must be licensed and gazetted.

So far, AFA has licensed 152 dealers under different categories this year. At the same time, it warned individuals and companies operating without proper authorization that legal action would be taken against them.

In last week’s gazette notice, AFA listed 10 additional companies seeking licenses to deal directly with international players in the coffee sector. Seven of them will be cleared to import, roast, and package coffee for the export market, while three will focus on facilitating direct sales of green coffee.

The authority noted the licensing split is designed to enhance specialization and efficiency within the sector. The public has been invited to submit objections to the proposed licenses within 14 days of the notice’s publication.