One family. Three generations. A community we call home
Liwani Coffee Estate began in 1983 in Solai, Nakuru County, within Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. Stephen and Margaret Kuria planted their first SL28 coffee trees in 1984. Over the years, they expanded their plantings to include SL34, Ruiru 11, and Batian.
Today, our farming story spans three generations. Stephen and Margaret are the first. Their children carry that work forward, connecting the farm with new markets through Solai Coffee. Their grandchildren are the third generation in a family whose life has been shaped by coffee.
Liwani is where our story begins. It is our family’s home, our connection to the land, and the foundation of our work with the wider farming community.
Born to cultivate coffee. Now we cultivate communities.
Our family has never farmed alone. Liwani’s work depends on people from the surrounding community, from tending and pruning the trees to picking and sorting the harvest. That work creates local employment and supports the families who help keep the estate growing.
For Margaret, coffee farming is a long-term investment in people as much as the farm itself. It creates opportunities close to home and gives younger generations a reason to see a future in agriculture.
Through Solai Coffee, that commitment extends beyond the estate. Together with customers, donors, and partner organizations, we support Solai Nyakinyua Primary School through learning resources, equipment, and activities that celebrate and encourage its students.
This is the community where our family grew up. Connecting our coffee with buyers also gives us a way to build relationships that support the place we call home.
“We depend on the community, and the community depends on us. When a roaster is intentional about where they spend their money, we can show them the path — it doesn't just pay wages, it puts money back into the ground the harvest came from.”Peter Kuria, Solai Coffee
Meet Our Farmers
Every cup begins with the hands that nurture the soil. Our farmers bring generations of knowledge, passion, and care to every harvest.
Stephen Kuria
First-generation farmer and co-ownerStephen began planting coffee at Liwani in 1984. After leaving civil service, he devoted himself to farming. His daily attention to the trees and willingness to adopt useful improvements continue to shape the estate.
Margaret Nyambura Kuria
First-generation farmer and co-ownerMargaret sees coffee farming as a long-term commitment to family and community. She values the livelihoods it creates and encourages younger generations to see agriculture as a meaningful future.
The Next Generations
Continuing the family’s workStephen and Margaret’s children carry the family’s farming story forward. Through Solai Coffee, their son Peter connects that work with roasters, businesses, and coffee drinkers. Their grandchildren represent the third generation of the family’s connection to Liwani.
Meet the people behind your coffee.
Explore our photographs and films, discover the coffees available from Liwani, or speak with us about visiting the farm. We welcome the chance to share our work and build lasting relationships with the people who roast and serve our coffee.
Watch Our Story · Explore Available Lots · Ask About a Farm Visit