The aroma of success is wafting through the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) as the latest weekly auction smashed expectations, netting a staggering Sh2.4 billion.

In a powerful indicator of the sector's resurgence, the weekly sale saw 40,918 bags of premium beans change hands, marking a dramatic uptick in both volume and value. This performance defies earlier market jitters and signals that the government's aggressive reforms in the coffee sub-sector are finally beginning to bear fruit—quite literally—for the weary Kenyan farmer.

Premium Grades Command Top Dollar

The star of the show was the coveted Grade AA, which continues to hold the international market captive. Buyers from Europe and Asia engaged in a fierce bidding war, driving prices for the top-tier beans to new highs. The auction report reveals that the Sh2.4 billion haul was driven by a 47% increase in traded volumes compared to the previous week, a clear sign that harvest flows are stabilizing.

• The Numbers: A total of 40,918 bags were traded, up from roughly 27,000 the previous week.
• The Wealth Spread: Cooperative societies in Central and Eastern Kenya, which produced the bulk of the Grade AA and AB beans, stand to reap the lion's share of these proceeds.
• Direct Settlement: Under the new Direct Settlement System (DSS), these funds are expected to hit farmers' accounts faster, bypassing the predatory middlemen who historically choked the industry.

A Sector on the Rebound

This windfall comes at a critical time. For years, coffee farming was synonymous with poverty, pushing many farmers to uproot bushes in favor of real estate. The current rally, fueled by high demand for high-quality Arabica, offers a glimmer of redemption. "The market is hungry for quality," noted an NCE official. "When we bring the right bean, the world opens its wallet."

As the gavel fell on the final lot, the Sh2.4 billion figure stood as more than just a statistic; it is a lifeline. If this trend holds, 2026 could be the year the "black gold" finally regains its luster in the Kenyan economy.