Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Wycliffe Oparanya, has pledged that the government will revitalise the coffee sector and roll out the same approach in the dairy value chain.

He made the announcement on Saturday, 7 February 2026, in a post on X following his closing remarks at the Ministry Performance Contracting Retreat held at the Kenya School of Government in Mombasa.

Oparanya delivered the statement at the end of the retreat, where ministry officials reviewed performance targets and delivery plans. He emphasised that the core aim remains clear: serve Kenyans better, faster, and with dignity.

“We are revitalising the coffee sector and rolling out the same model in the dairy value chain to increase farmers’ incomes and restore Kenya’s global standing,” Oparanya wrote on X.

Smallholder farmers targeted

The move targets smallholder farmers who have faced long-standing challenges, including low prices, poor market access, and outdated practices in both coffee and dairy. Coffee, once a major export earner for Kenya, has seen production decline over the years due to mismanagement in cooperatives, climate change, and competition.

Dairy farmers deal with similar problems, including fluctuating milk prices and limited value addition.

The government plans to apply successful strategies from the coffee sector to dairy farming. These strategies include improving governance in cooperatives, providing better inputs, enhancing processing, and opening up markets. Officials expect that the approach will boost incomes for farmers and restore Kenya’s position as a respected player in global agricultural markets.

Oparanya also addressed the cooperative sector more broadly. He confirmed that the government is taking steps to strengthen the SACCO Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA) and complete the review of the SACCO Societies Act, 2008.

“We are strengthening SASRA and finalising the review of the SACCO Societies Act, 2008 to protect members’ savings, improve governance and restore confidence in the cooperative sector,” he stated.

Empowering SACCOs and MSMEs

The reforms aim to safeguard depositors’ money, tighten oversight, and rebuild trust after cases of mismanagement in some SACCOs. Stricter rules and better regulations will allow cooperatives to play a bigger role in savings and credit for ordinary Kenyans.

For micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the ministry is taking direct action. Officials are mapping businesses across the country to understand their needs and scale.

“For MSMEs, we are mapping enterprises, rolling out MSMEs Connect to link entrepreneurs to finance, markets, digital tools and climate-smart solutions, and reforming laws to help small businesses grow into sustainable businesses,” Oparanya explained.

MSMEs Connect will link business owners with funding options, buyers, online tools, and environmentally friendly practices. Legal changes will ease barriers that prevent small firms from expanding, including complex registration processes and limited access to credit.

Oparanya highlighted collaboration with county governments and other institutions to bring opportunities closer to people in both rural and urban areas.