Kenya’s coffee industry leaders, policy makers and value chain players will meet in Nairobi on May 28 for the inaugural Kenya Coffee Hub International Convention.
The meet up will be the country’s first buyer-facing coffee convention bringing together farmers, exporters, policymakers, investors, logistics firms, innovators, and international coffee stakeholders under one roof in Nairobi.
The convention, set to become an annual gathering, seeks to reposition Kenya from being primarily a raw coffee exporter to a globally competitive value-addition and coffee innovation hub.
“Kenya has some of the best coffee internationally, yet a lot of people don’t know enough about Kenyan coffee, where it comes from, and its story. This platform aims to bring the entire coffee ecosystem together and create meaningful conversations around the future of Kenyan coffee,” said Salome Bissau, Kenya Coffee Hub co-founder.
The initiative is being supported by key stakeholders across government and the private sector, including the Ministry of Cooperatives, the Nairobi Coffee Exchange, the New KPCU, logistics giant AGL, CIC Insurance, and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Kenya Coffee Hub co-founder Joshua Tiampati said the event comes at a critical moment for Kenya’s coffee industry, which exports to nearly 59 countries annually but continues to lose significant economic value through the export of raw beans rather than finished products.
“We are not just shipping out raw beans, we want Kenya to cultivate a stronger coffee culture, create innovative coffee-based products, and retain more value locally before our coffee reaches the world,” said Tiampati. “
Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Mutahi pointed to Ethiopia’s domestic coffee consumption model as an example Kenya can learn from.
While Ethiopia consumes nearly half of its coffee production locally, Kenya consumes less than 10 per cent — a gap organizers believe presents major economic and cultural opportunities.
The convention will also spotlight pressing policy and trade issues affecting the coffee sector, including EU regulatory requirements, traceability challenges, sustainability standards, and the impact of global compliance demands on smallholder farmers and SMEs.
According to Joyce Chalagat, the convention aims to create a platform where policymakers, farmers, exporters, and private sector players can collectively shape the future of the industry.
“Coffee is heavily policy-driven, and many of these regulations directly affect farmers and small businesses,” she said. “All stakeholders must be part of the conversation.”
The event will also address gender disparities within the coffee value chain, with speakers highlighting the role women play in coffee farming despite limited ownership and decision-making opportunities in the sector.
In addition to policy discussions, organizers are positioning the convention as a catalyst for youth participation and entrepreneurship within agriculture and manufacturing.
“There is a coffee renaissance happening among young people,” said Tiampati. “This is an opportunity for Gen Z and young entrepreneurs to see coffee not just as agriculture, but as culture, innovation, business, and employment.”
The convention’s official launch event, dubbed Kahawa Conversations, will feature policy dialogues, private sector discussions, immersive coffee experiences, and networking opportunities designed to connect local producers with global markets and investors.
Leaders from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry say the conference aligns with broader national efforts to promote value addition, strengthen agricultural exports, and support Kenyan producers.
“This is the high time Kenya stopped exporting raw produce without premium value addition,” said KK Mutai. “We must build industries around our agricultural products so Kenyans can fully benefit from their work.”
The Kenya Coffee Hub International Convention is expected to position Nairobi as a premier African destination for global coffee trade, policy dialogue, innovation, and investment.