For a number of years now KCTA has supported the coffee industry training program with DKUT (Dedan Kimathi University College of Technology), firstly by developing a curriculum for education in coffee, but more importantly in helping to place students for training within the industry.
Over the years diploma and certificate students have been received well and completed their attachments successfully. All were placed as interns, largely thanks to the association members playing an active role in providing on-the-job training for our young people. Many of these students have taken up full time positions in our coffee labs and warehouses, and with time the most successful will provide the next generation of expert liquorers.

This competition is the Olympic Games for master coffee makers or 'baristas' and is organized by the African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA) and Kenya Coffee Traders Association (KCTA) - (Account Custodian) - in collaboration with the Kenyan Coffee Industry stakeholders including Dormans Coffee, Nairobi Java House and other hospitality outlets such as Sarova Hotels, Serena Hotels, Sankara Hotel, Tribe Hotel, Fairview among others. The event attracts competitors from Kenya's premier hotels, restaurants and coffee houses and the winner further represents Kenya in the Africa Barista Championship as well as the World Barista Championship. This event is highly promoted, as it serves a dual function in promoting coffee consumption and improved quality coffee production as you can see from the following goals;

• Introduce Kenyans to the fact that their coffee is among the best in the world
• Stimulate domestic consumption of coffee by allowing the public to test and taste quality coffee
• Foster improvement of quality in all links of the value chain: From farm to cup
• Introduce value added coffee products into the market for the benefit of all

KCTA has assisted in organizing both the Taste of Harvest and African Fine Coffee Conference & Exhibition.

We jointly recognize the need for sustainability in the industry and are willing to assist and support the stakeholders in the coffee value chain in endeavours to create an enabling environment. The collaboration has a MISSION to improve the quality and quantity of coffee production in Kenya by:

• Distributing positive and beneficial coffee information through existing and new channels of communication.
• Advocating for stable, enabling and confident business environment.
• Promoting corporate governance throughout the cooperative sector.
• Exploiting group dynamics for certification and marketing purposes.

KCTA has maintained an excellent relationship with the Authorities - Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority -Coffee Directorate, Nairobi Coffee Exchange and Coffee Research Institute. This has led to several joint initiatives including but not limited to:

• Coffee Industry Training Program
• Extension Services
• Coffee Experts Examination
• Mark of Origin Certification
• Coffee Industry Standards and Policy reforms