Sustainable Urban Economic Development (SUED) Programme
Planting Prosperity: How Kentaste’s First Steps in Lamu Are Seeding a Coconut Revolution In the quiet town of Hindi, where coconut palms sway gently in the coastal breeze, a new chapter is unfolding—one that promises to transform Lamu’s agricultural landscape and empower thousands of smallholder farmers. Kentaste Products Ltd has broken ground on a new facility in Lamu County. Backed by the Figure 1: A coconut tree at the coast UK Government funded Sustainable Urban Economic Development Programme’s seed fund and a bold vision for inclusive growth supported by the Lamu County Government, the project is generating excitement across farming communities. From Groundbreaking to Grassroots Construction of the coconut chip processing plant began in mid-2025, with a Lamu-based team leading site preparation and early infrastructure works. Kentaste’s approach goes beyond bricks and mortar it’s focusing on building trust, capacity, and long-term resilience through local talent development by working with Lamu-based extension officers who are championing coconut tree planting . Seedlings and Solidarity In partnership with the County Government, Kentaste has launched a farmer engagement campaign, distributing climate-resilient coconut seedlings and initiating training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). The goal is to regenerate Lamu’s aging coconut ecosystem and equip farmers for premium organic certification.