CS Lee Kinyanjui Lauds The Coffee Club Launch as Boost for Nairobi’s Urban Growth and Coffee Culture
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By John Kariuki
Nairobi, Kenya — Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry Lee Kinyanjui has hailed the official opening of The Coffee Club in Lavington as a sign of Nairobi’s rapid urban transformation and growing middle-class lifestyle.
Speaking during the grand opening at Luqman Mall, Kinyanjui praised the café’s entry into the Kenyan market as both timely and strategic, citing Nairobi’s rising global stature. “Our skyline is evolving. Nairobi is now a financial hub in Africa, attracting global institutions like the United Nations that are moving operations from New York,” he said.
The CS emphasized that this growth demands modern amenities—accommodation, education, and premium social spaces. “We need services like The Coffee Club. They are part of the broader economic narrative that’s taking shape in cities like Nairobi, Westlands, and Upper Hill.”
Kinyanjui also urged Kenyans to embrace a local coffee culture to support farmers. “If we grow domestic demand to even 30–40% of what we produce, we can protect our farmers from global shocks, just like Ethiopia has done.”
He called for better global branding of Kenyan coffee, tea, and macadamia, lamenting their absence on international retail shelves. “Retail development is key. We produce the best, but we rarely own the brand in global markets.”
The Coffee Club, an internationally renowned Australian franchise, officially launched its first East African outlet in partnership with Luqman Petroleum, a trusted local name. The new café is located at Luqman’s petrol station on Gitanga Road, bringing global café standards to Nairobi’s Lavington neighborhood.
Mr. Assad Mohammed, Director of Energies at Luqman Petroleum, said the partnership merges The Coffee Club’s international dining expertise with Luqman’s strong understanding of the Kenyan market. “We’re committed to delivering global quality with local flavor,” he said.
The Coffee Club plans to open 25 outlets across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda over the next ten years, with the Lavington branch setting the tone for service excellence and modern café culture in East Africa.
“This isn’t just a coffee shop,” Kinyanjui concluded. “It’s a symbol of opportunity, job creation, and global ambition rooted in local pride.”
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