What to Farm in Kiambu County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Kiambu ranks 1st for layers and 1st for coffee among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Kiambu Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Macadamia
5,105 tonnes of nuts
4th of 12 counties
994 ha · 5.1 t per ha · 12.6% of Kenya
Tea
38,992 tonnes of made tea
6th of 15 counties
19,096 ha · 2.0 t per ha · 6.9% of Kenya
Irish potatoes
102,645 tonnes
6th of 28 counties
19,206 ha · 5.3 t per ha · 4.4% of Kenya
Dairy cattle
273,836 animals
9th of 47 counties
4.9% of Kenya
Sweet potatoes
9,919 tonnes
10th of 42 counties
880 ha · 11.3 t per ha · 1.5% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Kiambu with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Kiambu: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Kiambu.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | Not given | 9,460 t clean coffee | Not given | 1st of 32 | 19.4% |
| Macadamia | 994 | 5,105 t nuts | 5.1 | 4th of 12 | 12.6% |
| Tea | 19,096 | 38,992 t made tea | 2.0 | 6th of 15 | 6.9% |
| Irish potatoes | 19,206 | 102,645 t | 5.3 | 6th of 28 | 4.4% |
| Sweet potatoes | 880 | 9,919 t | 11.3 | 10th of 42 | 1.5% |
| Pigeon peas | 158 | 87 t | 0.6 | 11th of 19 | <0.1% |
| Cowpeas | 160 | 159 t | 1.0 | 21st of 37 | 0.1% |
| Dry beans | 24,288 | 10,007 t | 0.4 | 27th of 39 | 1.2% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 20 | 13 t | 0.7 | 31st of 33 | <0.1% |
| Maize | 30,537 | 29,692 t | 1.0 | 32nd of 47 | 0.8% |
| Sorghum | 28 | 25 t | 0.9 | 38th of 41 | <0.1% |
Yield is output divided by area. Coffee is the 2022 to 2023 crop year. Sugar, tea and cotton show processed output.
Livestock and Poultry Kept in Kiambu
Numbers kept in Kiambu in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wool sheep | 40,197 | 8th of 20 | 3.2% |
| Dairy cattle | 273,836 | 9th of 47 | 4.9% |
| Dairy goats | 15,182 | 11th of 47 | 2.5% |
| Hair sheep | 88,457 | 30th of 47 | 0.4% |
| Meat goats | 70,752 | 39th of 47 | 0.2% |
| Beef cattle | 29,875 | 42nd of 47 | 0.2% |
| Pigs | 96,682 | 2nd of 43 | 11.5% |
| Rabbits | 25,135 | 11th of 46 | 3.2% |
| Donkeys | 6,667 | 22nd of 46 | 0.4% |
| Beehives | 12,689 | 35th of 47 | 0.8% |
| Layers | 1.6 million | 1st of 47 | 25.1% |
| Broilers | 439,334 | 5th of 47 | 8.0% |
| Indigenous chicken | 1.3 million | 12th of 47 | 2.5% |
| Ducks | 10,740 | 14th of 45 | 2.0% |
| Turkeys | 4,360 | 16th of 44 | 1.8% |
| Geese | 3,466 | 17th of 43 | 1.7% |
| Guinea fowl | 590 | 26th of 38 | 0.7% |
When to Plant in Kiambu
Kiambu is in a two-season area. Two seasons. Long rains: plant March to April, harvest July to August. Short rains: plant September to October, harvest December to January.
Blocks show the usual months.
Source: FEWS NET Kenya country book, citing a 2024 Ministry of Agriculture official. Rain onset is erratic, so planting can stretch from March to May. Windows suit crops of 4 to 7 months. Tea, coffee, macadamia and sugarcane go in at the start of the rains. Altitude changes the pattern inside a county, so ask your sub-county agricultural officer.
Five-Year Trends in Kiambu
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Coffee
Down 3% since 18/19
tonnes of clean coffee
Tea
Up 2% since 2019
tonnes of made tea
Irish potatoes
Up 14% since 2019
tonnes
Sweet potatoes
About level since 2019
tonnes
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Counties report these figures and they can swing from year to year. Read the direction, not one year.
The Main Products in Kiambu
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Layers
Kiambu recorded about 1.6 million layers in 2023. That ranks 1st of 47 counties and gives 25.1% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Coffee
In 2023 Kiambu produced 9,460 tonnes of clean coffee. That ranks 1st of 32 counties and gives 19.4% of Kenya's output. Output fell 3% between 2018/19 and 2022/23. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. The Coffee Directorate lists 21 cooperative societies and 68 factories here. Deliver cherry through your society.
Pigs
Kiambu recorded about 96,682 pigs in 2023. That ranks 2nd of 43 counties and gives 11.5% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Macadamia
In 2023 Kiambu produced 5,105 tonnes of macadamia nuts. That ranks 4th of 12 counties and gives 12.6% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 994 ha, a yield of 5.1 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 5.1. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Broilers
Kiambu recorded about 439,334 broilers in 2023. That ranks 5th of 47 counties and gives 8.0% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Tea
In 2023 Kiambu produced 38,992 tonnes of made tea. That ranks 6th of 15 counties and gives 6.9% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 19,096 ha, a yield of 2.0 t per ha. That is about 18% below the national average of 2.5. Output rose 2% between 2019 and 2023. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Green leaf goes to KTDA factories such as Kambaa, Mataara, Kagwe. Join through your factory company.
Dairy cattle
Kiambu recorded about 273,836 dairy cattle in 2023. That ranks 9th of 47 counties and gives 4.9% of Kenya's total. Milk outlets include Brookside (Ruiru), Githunguri DFCS, Ndumberi DFCS. Most accept milk only from registered members or suppliers.
Where to Sell in Kiambu
Buyers, factories and markets to check first. Each one is a lead, not a promise.
Confirm before delivering. Every name here is a lead from a research directory compiled on 8 November 2026. Operators, catchments and rules change. We have not checked each one.
How to find a buyer in Kiambu
- Check farm gate and wholesale prices on KAMIS. It covers five markets in every county.
- Ask the county cooperative officer which registered societies buy your product.
- Visit the buyer first. Ask for the grade, price, payment date and who pays transport.
- Start with one small delivery before you commit your harvest.
Tea
KTDA factories listed for Kiambu:
- Kambaa
- Mataara
- Kagwe
- Theta
- Ngere
- Ikumbi
- Ndarugu
- Gachege
- Njunu
- Nduti
- Gacharage
Karirana Estates is a private tea estate and processor, not a KTDA smallholder factory.
Access: factories take leaf from registered growers in their catchment. Confirm the catchment, registration steps and collection point first.
Coffee
The Coffee Directorate Year Book 2022/23 records 21 cooperative societies running 68 factories in Kiambu.
Millers named for the area:
- Thika Coffee Mills
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Kiambu:
- Brookside (Ruiru)
- Githunguri DFCS
- Ndumberi DFCS
- Limuru Dairy Farmers Cooperative
- Kiambaa DFCS
- Lari Dairy Alliance
- Uplands Premium Dairies
Brookside publishes these supplier rules:
- Fresh cow milk.
- Butterfat of at least 3.7%.
- No antibiotics or preservatives.
- Milk chilled to 3 to 6 degrees Celsius.
Its supplier registration line is 0702 967 911 (SMS 22323).
Access: many outlets take milk only from registered members or suppliers. Ask about membership and price before you deliver.
Livestock
Ndumbuini slaughterhouse, Rungiri: a pork lead for Nairobi. Confirm its licence and whether it buys from individual farmers.
Ask the county livestock or veterinary office for market names and days. Never move animals without the right permits.
Fruit and vegetable exporters
Exporters and packhouses listed:
- AAA Growers (Thika and Central Kenya)
Access: exporters usually buy under contract. Ask about grade, packaging and payment terms.
Know a buyer or a market in Kiambu that should be listed? Tell us on WhatsApp. Please send the business name, product, location and how farmers can sell to it.
Priority Value Chains in Kiambu
The national strategy backs these products in Kiambu. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Kiambu County
Kiambu is in the Central Highlands zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm.
- Crops the zone favours
- Coffee, tea, Irish potatoes, French beans, bananas and tomatoes.
- Livestock and fish
- Dairy cattle and poultry.
- Rain and soil
- Two seasons of high rain. Deep, very fertile red soils.
- Farming households
- About 1 million farming households
- Typical rainfall
- 1,600 to over 2,000 mm
- Typical farm size
- 2 to 5 acres
- Typical household income
- about KES 30,000 a month
Income, farm size and rainfall are 2019 strategy estimates. Read the AEZ guide to see how zones are set.
Test the Profit of Kiambu’s Top Products
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What These Figures Do Not Show
Fruit and vegetables
The report has no county figures for tomatoes, avocados or onions. Check local buyers first.
Fish
Fish output is reported by lake and sea, not by county. See the fish guide.
Your ward
Soil and rain change inside a county. Ask your sub-county agricultural officer.
Your profit
Output is not profit. Run your own costs in the profit calculator.
Questions About Farming in Kiambu
What crops grow best in Kiambu County?
Kiambu ranks 1st for layers and 1st for coffee. The biggest crop areas are maize (30,537 ha), dry beans (24,288 ha), Irish potatoes (19,206 ha).
Which livestock is common in Kiambu County?
Kiambu ranks 1st for layers, 2nd for pigs, 5th for broilers. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Kiambu County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Kiambu above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Kiambu County in?
The national strategy places Kiambu in the Central Highlands zone. Our AEZ guide explains how zones, rain and soil shape what you can grow.
How do I work out profit in Kiambu County?
Open the farm profit calculator, choose your product, then enter your acres, yield and local price.
Does this cover my sub-county or ward?
No. The national figures stop at county level. Soil and rain change across a county, so ask your sub-county agricultural officer.
Where do the figures come from?
The KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024 is the source. Figures are for 2023, and coffee uses crop year 2022 to 2023.
Ask About Farming in Kiambu
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Kiambu
Farm business plan
A costed plan for your acreage, market and cash flow. Banks and Saccos ask for one. Ask for a quote.
Finance for your farm
Learn what lenders ask for, which securities they accept and how to apply. We can help you prepare.
County agribusiness brief
For banks, programmes, investors and county teams. A short paid brief on Kiambu: products, buyers, risks and gaps.
About This Page
Updated 8 November 2026. Production figures are 2023 data from the national report. Buyer and season notes were compiled on the same date.
How we made this page
County output, area and rank come from the KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Rank compares Kiambu with the counties that report the product. Yield is output divided by area. Trend charts use the same report’s five-year tables.
Planting seasons follow the FEWS NET Kenya country book, which cites a 2024 Ministry of Agriculture official. Zone details come from the 2019 national strategy (ASTGS), explained in our AEZ guide.
Buyer names come from four sources. One is third-party research for Agcenture. The others are the Coffee Directorate Year Book, Brookside’s supplier page and the Kenya Dairy Board register. Prices come from KAMIS. We have not verified each buyer. Tell us if something is wrong.
Written and maintained by the Agcenture editorial team. Report a correction on WhatsApp.
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