By Robert Mutasi 
Uasin Gishu County Governor Dr. Jonathan Bii Chelilim says his administration is deliberately transforming the grassroots economy through agricultural diversification, with coffee farming taking a central role.
The governor said that in the last four years, the county has distributed over 1.6 million coffee seedlings to farmers and is currently distributing an additional one million seedlings across the county.
Speaking at the Ainabkoi/Olare Ward Office where he distributed 56,058 coffee seedlings to farmers from Ainabkoi/Olare Ward, Governor Bii said the demand for coffee seedlings continues to rise among residents, and his administration is deliberately bridging the gap as part of efforts to put more money directly into farmers’ pockets.
The distribution in Ainabkoi/Olare brings the total number of seedlings distributed across Ainabkoi Sub-County to 204,885, according to the governor.
“We are deliberately transforming our people’s economy at the grassroots through agricultural diversification, with coffee farming taking a central role. In four years, we have distributed over 1.6 million coffee seedlings and are currently distributing an additional one million,” Governor Bii said.
“The demand for coffee seedlings continues to rise among our people, and my administration is deliberately bridging this gap as part of our efforts to put more money directly into the pockets of our farmers,” he added.
The county has been pushing coffee as a high-value alternative to over-reliance on maize and wheat, in a bid to increase household incomes and create sustainable economic empowerment at the ward level. Under the programme, farmers receive certified seedlings alongside extension support from the Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness, Livestock and Fisheries.
Meanwhile, the county has announced the next phase of the distribution exercise targeting Soy Sub-County. According to a programme poster released by the county, the launch and distribution of coffee seedlings for Soy will be held on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 12:00 Noon at Ziwa Ward – Sirikwa Center.
The exercise will cover all seven wards in Soy Sub-County: Moi’s Bridge, Kapkures, Ziwa, Segero/Barsombe, Kipsomba, Soy, and Kuinet/Kapsuswa.
The event is scheduled under the theme “Brewing Prosperity: Enhancing the Coffee Value Chain for Sustainable Economic Empowerment” and will be presided over by Governor Dr. Jonathan Bii Chelilim as the Chief Guest, hosted by area Members of County Assembly.
Officials from the department say the county is targeting to expand coffee acreage across all sub-counties, with a focus on value addition and market linkages to ensure farmers benefit from the entire coffee value chain.
The governor has maintained that agricultural diversification remains a key pillar of his administration’s development agenda, aimed at building resilience among smallholder farmers and driving inclusive growth across Uasin Gishu County.