Classy Cassy

Jane Wanjiku Kiriri - Kamau is the founder and farmer behind WanRich Coffee, a smallholder coffee farm located in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, in western Kenya. After a long career in banking, Jane established her specialty coffee farm in 2015, making a full transition from maize and cattle to coffee cultivation. Her farm sits at 1,800 meters above sea level, on the fertile volcanic soils of the western slopes of Mount Elgon - a region known for its consistent rainfall and favorable microclimate. The terroir of Kitale - high elevation, volcanic soils, and mild climate (rarely exceeding 28 °C) - allows slow cherry maturation and a bright acidity in the cup.

On the farm, she cultivates Kenya’s most iconic Arabica varieties: SL28, SL34, Batian and Ruiru 11, often grafted together to combine disease resistance with exceptional cup quality. Jane follows organic farming practices - no pesticides, manual weeding, and seasonal applications of organic foliar nutrients. Her agronomic approach is supported by experts from Kenya’s Coffee Research Institute.
The coffee is fully washed, with meticulous post-harvest processing carried out on-site. Ripe cherries are hand-picked, pulped the same day without water, and undergo a double fermentation process — soaked first for 13–15 hours, washed, then soaked again for another 12–13 hours overnight. After a final washing, the parchment is sun-dried on raised beds for 10–11 days, carefully covered during peak sunlight to ensure even drying and preserve delicate flavors.
In addition to quality, Jane’s work delivers meaningful impact: she provides full-year employment to local workers, is an active member of the NORT, a women's group working to create a central processing station for farmers in the region.