Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu making his speech during Madaraka Day celebrations at Il Polei Secondary School on June 1, 2023. His administration has initiated elaborate plans to turn Laikipia into one of Kenya's top coffee growing regions.
Photo credit: Mwangi Ndirangu I Nation Media Group
More than 12,000 coffee seedlings have been distributed in parts of Laikipia County as the devolved unit embarks on a programme to promote a crop once regarded as Kenya's black gold.
Although the crop's fortunes appear to be waning in the country's traditional coffee-growing areas, with some farmers switching to other agricultural ventures, Laikipia County is banking on the continued rains to promote and increase the area under the crop, which for years has been Kenya's top foreign exchange earner.
