Kenya
Muganga Farmers Coop
Kieni Washing Station
Konyu Village
Nyeri
1700-1800 masl
SL-28, SL-34, Ruiru 11 & Batian
Washed

Blackcurrant, raspberry, and orange.

Kieni washing station: Tucked away in the hills of Nyeri County sits the Kieni washing station. Kieni washing station is one of the five washing stations managed by the Mugaga Farmers’ Cooperative Society. In the quiet village of Konyu, Kieni washing station works with around 1,000 smallholder farmers who bring their fresh coffee cherries here for processing.

The Mugaga mission: Mugaga Farmers' Cooperative Society believes that the good in coffee comes from deep roots and a strong, consistent investment in the community. The cooperative runs five washing stations: Kieni, Kagumoini, Kiamabara, Gathugu, and Gatina, collectively representing over 4,800 members.  

Beyond offering fair prices for coffee, Mugaga actively supports its farmers through initiatives like tree rejuvenation programs, access to essential inputs, and projects that encourage women and young people to take part in coffee farming. Impressively, nearly one-third of the cooperative’s members are women--their engagement initiatives are clearly working!

Farm size and varietals: The farmers who deliver to Kieni typically tend to small plots with around 200 trees each. You’ll mostly find classic Kenyan varieties like SL28 and SL34, alongside newer ones such as Batian and Ruiru 11. These varieties thrive in Nyeri’s rich, red soils and cool, high-altitude climate.

Kieni smallholders start with handpicking ripe cherries, ensuring only the best are chosen. Once delivered, the cherries are sorted, pulped, and fermented for 16 to 24 hours before being washed in clean water through grading channels.

After that, the parchment coffee gets a 24-hour soak and is then spread out on raised African beds to dry. Depending on the weather, drying takes anywhere from 5 to 21 days.