The Karimikui factory is located in the Kirinyaga region and is part of the Rungeto Farmer’s Cooperative Society and serves about 1,400 small producers who grow 745 tonnes of cherry per year in rich volcanic soil. The cherrys are fully washed in fresh river water from Kii and sundried on raised beds.

The Rungeto Farmer’s Cooperative Society opened in 1977 for coffee processing and was formed by the Kiangoi, Karimikui and Kii factories from the Kirinyaga region of Kenya. The factories in this society were recognised after liquidation of the famous Ngiriama Cooperative Society, inheriting their assets. After liquidation, Karimikui joined with Kii & Kiangoi to form Rungeto Farmer’s Cooperative Society and re-opened in 1997 for coffee processing.

The Rungeto Farmer’s society also operates a dairy cooling plant and collects over 120,000 litres of milk a month and is a supplier to one of Kenya’s largest dairy product companies. This helps the farmers diversify their income base. Using Fairtrade premiums, the society has also set up a fuel station. The income allows the society to cover it’s overheads thereby increasing the farmers income.

Farm or Region History / Background

The factories in this society were recognised after liquidation of the famous Ngiriama co-operative society which had a lot of Assets.After liquidation Karimikui joined with Kii & Kiangoi to form Rungeto farmers’ co-operative society. The factory re-opened in 1997 for coffee processing.

Farm / Estate Processing Techniques Fermentation done with Fresh River Water from Kii and then sundried on raised beds

Community Development
The Rungeto Farmer’s society operates a dairy cooling plant and collects over 120,000 litres of milk a month and is a supplier to one of Kenya’s largest dairy product companies. This helps the farmers diversify their income base. Using Fairtrade premiums, the society has also set up a fuel station. The income allows the society to cover it’s overheads thereby increasing the farmers income.