In a landmark achievement for the Kenyan agricultural sector, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has successfully partnered with government ministries and private exporters to flag off the first shipment of green coffee beans bound for Italy.

The initial consignment of 20 containers was exported by SumSeron Coffee, a proud KNCCI corporate member. The historic dispatch to the Port of Trieste is the culmination of rigorous, multi-lateral lobbying and trade advocacy between the Kenyan Government, KNCCI, and the Italian Government. The beans were safely processed and dispatched from the state-of-the-art facilities of Mitchell Cotts Kenya Ltd, represented by their management team.

Speaking at the send-off ceremony, KNCCI President Dr. Erick Rutto celebrated the breakthrough as a direct victory for collaborative trade diplomacy:

“This milestone is incredibly fulfilling. Opening up the Italian market, the third-largest consumer of coffee in Europe with a market value of KES 500 Billion, proves that when public and private entities align, we unlock historic value. In this first shipment alone, premium Kenyan coffee is fetching upwards of USD 9.50 per kilogram.”

This entry into the Italian market serves as a strategic gateway into the wider European Union market, currently valued at over KES 6 Trillion. Dr. Rutto highlighted that securing these premium, high-value avenues will catalyze Kenya’s national production goals, accelerating the target of reaching 150,000 Metric Tons (MT) by 2029 from the current output of 50,000 MT.

He further noted that KNCCI is actively targeting additional markets across Central and Eastern Europe to diversify export portfolios and buffer local farmers against regional price volatility.

To ensure Kenyan exporters can maintain consistent, long-term access to highly regulated markets like the EU, KNCCI is driving key structural reforms at the grassroots level:

  • Capacity Building: KNCCI has successfully trained 200 local cooperatives on Business Human Rights, focusing strictly on fair compensation, market compliance, and building premium brand equity.

  • Risk Mitigation: The Chamber has published a comprehensive Sector-Wide Impact Assessment (SWIA) focused entirely on the coffee value chain. This assessment outlines actionable steps to mitigate labor, environmental, and human rights risks, directly aligning local farming processes with global supply chain standards.

The flagging-off event was highly attended by senior government representatives, signaling strong state support for the expansion of agricultural trade.

Patrick Kiburi Kilemi, CBS, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Cooperatives, stated that the ongoing expansion into new territories is a direct outcome of structured state investments:

“Beyond policy frameworks, the government is continuously working to clear historical coffee debts owed to farmers. This will relieve financial pressure at the grassroots level and encourage fresh, robust investments back into the sector.”

Regina Ombam, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Trade, attributed the trade breakthrough to aggressive, targeted marketing and high-level showcasing of Kenyan products abroad. She noted that this Italian export comes just months after a dedicated trade mission to Italy.

“We are highly determined to expand market access. We’ve already witnessed successful bilateral exchanges with countries like South Korea, and we are incredibly optimistic that the Kazakhstan market will open up for our exporters very soon.”

Also present at the high-profile ceremony was a distinguished delegation of stakeholders spanning the private sector, financial institutions, development partners, and key regulatory bodies. The event also saw active participation from the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Coffee Directorate, and Hon. Brighton Yegon (Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock). Critical financial and development backing was represented by teams from Stanbic Bank, Co-operative Bank, and Absa Bank, alongside key grassroots and institutional allies including Elizabeth Mbithi (MCDU), Martin Malila (Machakos Cooperative Union), Lewis Momanyi (Strathmore Business School’s Institute of Small Business Initiatives), Ms. Isabella Tenai (E4Impact East Africa), and Mr. Mario Brataj (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation – AICS).

This successful export is a shining example of KNCCI’s active commitment to championing its members’ growth, securing competitive global prices, and positioning Kenyan products at the forefront of the international market.