Coffee farmers affiliated with Mutira Farmers Cooperative Society in Kirinyaga County are set to benefit from improved earnings after the society announced competitive cherry payment rates for the 2025/2026 crop year.
According to an official communication dated April 21, 2026, the cooperative released detailed payouts across its factories, reflecting what leaders have described as a significant turnaround in the sector. Kagumo factory recorded the highest payment at Ksh 150.05 per kilogram of cherry, followed by Mugaya at Ksh 146.02 and Kiamutuira at Ksh 142.04. Other factories included Mutitu (Ksh 134.10), Ngorano (Ksh 130.50), Kariti (Ksh 135.06) and Kiangundu (Ksh 130.00).
The announcement has been welcomed as a major boost to farmers who have long struggled with fluctuating coffee prices and management challenges within cooperative societies.
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba hailed the improved rates, terming them a reflection of renewed accountability and reforms in the coffee sector. In a public statement, the legislator linked the progress to interventions aimed at restoring transparency within cooperatives.
Wamuchomba revealed that Mutira Farmers Cooperative Society had previously faced governance challenges, prompting intervention efforts that included a forensic audit conducted in collaboration with the Commissioner for Cooperatives. She noted that the audit was key in rebuilding farmer trust and streamlining operations within the society.
“This is a remarkable milestone that reflects resilience, improved management and a renewed commitment to accountability and excellence,” she stated.
The MP also praised President William Ruto, attributing the improved returns to broader reforms in the coffee sector that have sought to empower farmers and stabilize earnings.
Coffee farming remains a critical economic activity for many households in Central Kenya, including Kiambu, where farmers continue to push for better prices and efficient cooperative management. Improved cherry payments are often seen as a direct measure of success in reforms targeting the sector.
The Mutira payout is expected to set a benchmark for other cooperative societies, as stakeholders continue to call for transparency, better governance and value addition to increase farmer incomes.
For many farmers, the improved rates signal hope for a more stable and rewarding future in coffee farming, especially amid rising production costs and economic pressures.
