Coffee certification is a new approach aimed at enhancing productivity for both smallholder and large coffee farmers in Kenya. It holds significant potential in ensuring access to global markets and competitive prices. However, smallholder farmers face challenges due to a productivity gap stemming from traditional farming practices. Given the coffee sector’s importance to rural livelihoods and export earnings, it is essential to help small-scale farmers use resources efficiently. This study aimed to assess the technical efficiency of smallholder coffee farmers post-certification. A stochastic production frontier using Tranlog production function was used to provide evidence on agricultural practices affecting productivity in coffee. Multistage sampling was used to sample 313 coffee farmers in Mt Elgon sub-county. The results revealed a high technical inefficiency rate of 89%. Socio-economic factors that positively influenced productivity included farmer groups, training programs, education level, coffee area, and the use of both organic and synthetic fertilizers. Certified farmers produced more coffee compared to non-certified farmers. These findings provide valuable insights for the government, emphasizing the need for policies that promote land expansion, farmer training, and awareness of certification programs. Empowering farmers and stakeholders is essential for improving productivity in the coffee sector

Keywords: Coffee production; technical efficiency; stochastic frontier analysis; Trans log production frontier; small holder coffee farmers in Kenya