×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Join Thousands of Readers
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download Now

New EU laws brew trouble for Kenya's smallholder coffee farmers

Vocalize Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Vocalize

A coffee farmer sorts out coffee berries at a coffee factory in Mathira, Nyeri County. [File, Standard]

Kenya's coffee industry is racing against time to comply with the European Union Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR), a stringent new trade requirement that could lock smallholder farmers out of one of their most lucrative markets if unmet by January 1, 2026.

With over 55 per cent of Kenya's coffee exports destined for the European Union, failure to align with these new standards could trigger a market crisis with wide-reaching economic consequences.

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.
Uncover the stories others won’t tell. Subscribe now for exclusive access
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimized reading experience
  • Weekly Newsletters
  • MPesa, Airtel Money and Cards accepted
Already a subscriber? Log in
Business
Big win for Ruto as court clears path for sale of key State firms
Business
PwC now seeks buyers for Koko Networks assets
Business
Kenya Pipeline Company IPO extended by three working days
Enterprise
When fundamentals are stable but the patient is terrified