Kenya Iyego AA Washed (green)

Description

Region: Muranga County
Altitude: 1650 MASL
Varietal: Ruiru 11, Batian, SL 28 and SL 34
Processing: Washed, sun dried
Farm: Small landholders
Owner: Iyego Coffee Growers Cooperative

In the cup: Red currants, dark chocolate, Demerara sugar, rhubarb compote

Iyego Coffee Growers Cooperative Society is located in Iyego in Muranga County.

Murang’s County is on of the five counties in the central region of the Republic of Kenya. It is bordered to the North by Nyeri, to the south by Kiambu. to the West by Nyandarua and to the East by Kirinyaga, Embu and Machakos counties. Its largest town and capital is Murang’a.

Murang’a County is thought to be birthplace of the Kikuyu Community. Murang’a is

Murang’a County is thought to be birthplace of the Kikuyu Community. Murang’a is also famed as the origin of the Mau Mau uprising.

Iyego CGCS was was established and registered in 1959 with over twelve mills. Due to dropping coffee prices and instability in the local coffee sector, only five mills operate today, one of which is Iyego.  Iyego CGCS has around 7,500 members with only around 4,500 being active. They have around 2,000 hectares growing coffee and produce about 1600 metric tonnes of cherry annually.

The Cooperative owned by its members. Members are issued with share certificates based on contributions. It is run by 9 elected board members with a 3 member supervisory committee. The Managing Secretary, Mrs Nyaga, manages the day-to-day activities and is in charge of the 70 permanent staff members . During peak harvest time, seasonal workers are hired to assist with production.

Iyego runs a nursery of Ruiru 11 and  Batian that they sell (or offer on credit) to farmers to graft on their SL trees. By increasing efficiency through digitalisation, the co-operative has been able to enhance its communication, improve training and payments to their farmers.