By Simon Chelugui, Former Cabinet Secretary
Embu County, Kenya – More than three decades ago, the picturesque town of Embu was the backdrop for a significant agricultural event that brought together farmers, leaders, and industry experts to celebrate progress and innovation in the coffee sector. The year was 1994, and the Embu Farmer’s Field Day was one for the books.
The event was officially opened by Mr. Callistus Okello, then District Commissioner of Embu, who welcomed an esteemed delegation led by Hon. Edward Kiptanui, Chairman of Coffee Machinery Services (CMS) East Africa. Hon. Kiptanui's involvement was pivotal in transforming the local coffee sector, and his passion for improving the livelihoods of farmers in the region was evident in every aspect of the event.
The Embu Farmer's Field Day highlighted the importance of innovation and collaboration among stakeholders in the coffee industry. CMS, under the leadership of Hon. Kiptanui, played a central role in offering technology and machinery that would ultimately boost the productivity and quality of coffee farming. The event was not just a show of machinery, but a demonstration of the power of partnerships between the government, private sector, and local farmers.
Alongside Hon. Kiptanui, other CMS directors, including the one and only visionary behind much of the company’s success, were in attendance, contributing to the overall success of the event.
Later that same year, CMS hosted another significant visitor, the then National Bank of Kenya Board Chairman, Mr. John Simba. His courtesy call to CMS marked a moment of deepening relationships between corporate Kenya and the coffee sector. The CMS directors, led by Hon. Kiptanui, warmly received Mr. Simba, reinforcing the importance of business and financial support for farmers in the region.
Both events marked milestones in the relationship between the coffee industry and the business community, as well as the government, signaling a new era of partnership and progress.
The late Hon. Edward Kiptanui, who passed on recently, left behind an indelible legacy. His work with CMS and his commitment to transforming Kenya’s coffee industry will forever be remembered. The seeds he planted more than three decades ago continue to bear fruit, benefiting countless farmers in the region.
Fare thee well, Mheshimiwa Kiptanui. Your contributions to the development of the coffee sector and your tireless efforts to improve the livelihoods of Kenyan farmers will never be forgotten.
Indeed, life is a journey, and your impact is one that will echo through the annals of history. The memories of those early days in Embu, working alongside distinguished leaders, continue to inspire a new generation of farmers and leaders alike.
