Mbokam is a 2.5 hectare coffee farm and wet mill (or factory, as they are known in Kenya), owned by Arthur and Josephine Mbogo, located in Embu County. The estate is lush and healthy, thanks to the couple’s commitment to following sustainable agricultural practices, with plenty of food crops and cattle raised alongside coffee. This considerate approach to farming is led by Josephine, and it contributes to the estate’s rich biodiversity, supports a balanced ecosystem, enriches the soil, and provides the couple with a diverse and secure source of food and income.

Mbokam was first established in the early 1950s by Arthur’s father, Mr. Gerishon Mbogo. He received the original parcel of land from elders of the Embu community and he named it by combining his family name, Mbogo (which translates to ‘buffalo’), with the name of the stream that flows through the farm, Kamavindi. In 1958, the estate was planted with its first 100 trees, a limitation set on Kenyan farmers by the ruling British colonialists. Following Kenya’s independence in December 1963 and the abolishment of these regulations, Gerishon was able to expand his plantation. For years, he sold his coffee cherries to the local Kibugu Farmers Cooperative Society; until in 1996, when his volumes had increased enough, he built a small factory onsite.

Today, Josephine and Arthur tend to some 6,500 SL28 trees. Because Arthur works as a public servant, Josephine is in charge of running Mbokam — a job she excels at, given how productive the farm is. Along with coffee, Josephine has planted avocado, corn, banana, pumpkin and macadamia, as well as native trees. Everything planted has a purpose, from generating extra income and food for sustenance, to helping prevent erosion and promoting shade.