President William Samoei Ruto has appointed Njeru Peter Ndwiga as Non-Executive Chairperson of the Coffee Board of Kenya for a period of three years, w.e.f 30th October 2026. This is according to Section 7(1)(a) of the Coffee Act. The previous appointment under Gazette Notice No. 14143 of 2026 has been revoked.

Also, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development has appointed Henry Gichuhi Kinyua to the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Council of the Coffee Research and Training Institute of Kenya for a period of three years, w.e.f 30th October 2026.

The Coffee Act, 2026 creates two institutions to steer the sector. The Coffee Board of Kenya regulates, markets and promotes our coffee, while the Coffee Research and Training Institute, governed by a Council, drives research, breeding, planting materials and training.

Research only matters if it reaches the farm. As a farmer or stakeholder, the coffee research institute seeks to improve Seedlings, varieties, extension, disease control and training.

Ndwiga, a former cabinet minister and Embu Senator, brings in enormous experience in the public service as well as the coffee sector, having worked under the late President Mwai Kibaki.

Kinyua is a previous Nyeri County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and has previously headed the Kenya Planters Co-operative Union(KPCU).