The United States (US) has revealed a strategic partnership with Kwale-based coconut processor Kentaste, aiming to create substantial economic opportunities for over 4,500 local farmers.
Meg Whitman, the US Ambassador to Kenya, jointly announced the project alongside Kentaste leaders.
This venture, funded by a combined investment of over $1.6 million (233 million shillings) from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Kentaste, will bolster Kentaste’s efforts to enhance its exports to the US.
During her visit to the Kentaste coconut processing factory, which stands as East Africa’s leading producer of coconut goods, Ambassador Whitman, accompanied by Australian High Commissioner to Kenya Luke Williams, unveiled the collaboration.
The envoys subsequently explored coconut farms in proximity to the Kentaste facility. Originally a producer of virgin coconut oil, milk, and cream, Kentaste’s product range has expanded over time to include desiccated coconut, coconut flour, and coconut snacks.
The financial backing for this initiative stems from USAID with contributions from Feed the Future and Prosper Africa.
Ambassador Whitman expressed that this partnership is projected to increase Kentaste’s processing capacity by 67 percent, enabling the handling of 50,000 coconuts daily. This expansion is set to generate 90 full-time jobs and facilitate the inclusion of 1,500 new farmers as suppliers.
Notably, more than 30 percent of the newly enrolled farmers will be women. Additionally, the project aims to reduce food loss and waste by 32,500 liters over the next two years through heightened processing efficiency.
Ambassador Whitman emphasized the broader impact of such collaborations, stating, “Through partnerships like this, we are enhancing trade, transforming lives, and combating food waste and its impacts on climate change.”
She further noted that sustainable growth and international cooperation play pivotal roles in the prosperity of both nations.
The partnership between USAID and Kentaste also secures affiliations with prominent US retailers that will carry Kentaste’s coconut water products.
These connections not only widen access to the US market for Kenyan coconut goods but also create employment opportunities for Kenyan producers.
Abdalla Mwaramunda, a representative of local farmers, shared his positive experience: “With Kentaste, I now have consistent earnings and better farming techniques.”
He highlighted that this partnership has significantly transformed their community, liberating them from the challenges posed by intermediaries.
Coconut farming holds cultural, social, and economic significance in the coastal region, and this collaboration is seen as an opportunity to tap into its substantial potential for both local consumption and export.
Said Boga, another farmer’s representative, expressed the appreciation of coconut industry stakeholders and farming communities for initiatives that strengthen the coconut sector, welcoming the positive impact it brings.
