Why a coffee farmer can out-earn a Ksh100K job – Gathoni Wamuchomba
By Kiprono Keileb, January 3, 2026Githunguri Member of Parliament (MP) Gathoni Wamuchomba has urged Kenyan job seekers to rethink their understanding of work and income, saying agriculture, especially coffee farming, can earn more than many salaried jobs.
In a statement posted on X on Friday, January 2, 2025, the MP shared her reflections after attending a coffee farmers’ Annual General Meeting in Kiharu, where she said real-life figures from farmers challenged the common belief that success must come from office jobs or opportunities abroad.
Wamuchomba said the meeting opened her eyes to the economic potential that exists within local farming when it is well supported and managed.
The MP explained that while in Kiharu, some coffee farmers were recognised for high production, prompting her to calculate their possible earnings based on output and market prices. According to her, the figures showed that farming can comfortably compete with, and even surpass, many monthly salaries Kenyans chase.
“To job seekers, this might help you think broader. Today I was in Kiharu during a coffee farmer’s Annual General meeting. Some farmers were awarded for achieving high production. I did my maths and concluded there’s no need to find a job to earn 100 k a month,” Wamuchomba said.
She went on to give a breakdown of one farmer’s production, noting that the farmer harvested 20,000 kilos of coffee and earned Ksh120 per kilo, translating to gross earnings of about Ksh2.4 million.
“One farmer is producing 20,000 kilos, earning Ksh120 per kilo. Hes recieving about Ksh 2.4M,” she stated.
Wamuchomba added that even after accounting for costs such as land and production, estimated at half of the earnings, the farmer still takes home an amount that outperforms many salaried jobs over the same period.
“Assuming his cost of land and production is 50 per cent, his take-home is about 200k a month for 6 months. Total of 1.2 M already taxed,” she said.
The MP questioned why young people would feel pressured to seek work abroad when such opportunities exist locally, arguing that the real solution lies in policy choices and leadership.
“With such an income, why do you need a job abroad?” Wamuchomba asked.
She linked the success of farmers to governance, saying sectors like coffee can only thrive when protected and promoted by the government.
“All you need is to elect a good government that will protect and promote such a sector,” she said.
Wamuchomba ended her message by calling for stronger support for coffee farmers and reaffirming her commitment to the sector.
“Lets support our coffee farmers to produce more. Am proud to be a coffee advocate. My coffee, my pride!” she said.