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Speakers
Guest Speakers
Highly Energetic and Dynamic Internationally and Nationally Recognized Speakers Gracing the Event.
Prof. Daniel Mugendi Njiru, Ph.D., EBS
Vice-Chancellor, University of Embu
Professor Daniel Mugendi is a distinguished scholar and leader with over 30 years of experience in academia, research, and university management. He currently serves as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Embu. Prof. Mugendi also chairs the Board of Directors at KEFRI, sits on the National Environment Council, and holds leadership roles in the Soil Science Society of East Africa. Internationally recognized, he has secured 23+ research grants, authored 9 books and 64 book chapters, and contributed widely to peer-reviewed journals.
Mr. James Wachihi
Speaker,CEC, Agriculture, Nyeri County
James is an experienced Agricultural Economist with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and Resource Management and over 11 years in the field. He has worked across livestock and crop value chains, most recently as Senior Agribusiness Advisor at Latia Agribusiness Solutions. Currently, he is the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture in Nyeri County, a key macadamia-producing region. James champions youth involvement in agriculture through tech-driven incubation programs and supports farmer producer organizations to align with market needs.
Mr. Joseph Mulupi
Consultant, Centre for the Promotion of Imports (CBI)
Joseph is a development expert with over 10 years of experience in enterprise development, finance, capacity building, and market access, focusing on value chains to reduce rural poverty. He has managed donor-funded projects across Africa, working with the EU, DFID, NGOs, and private sector players. Having worked in countries like South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, and Nigeria, Joseph brings a wealth of experience from both NGO and private sectors, including roles at PwC Kenya and Value Seeds Ltd. Currently, he consults with CBI to support Kenyan exports to European markets, offering valuable insights for strengthening the macadamia subsector.
Mr. Vincent Chirchir
Ag. Deputy Director, Regulation and Compliance at Agriculture and Food Authority(AFA)
Vincent is a seasoned Food Technologist with over 15 years of experience in quality assurance, food safety, and processing. A JKUAT graduate, he has played a key role in shaping regulations and standards in Kenya’s nuts, oil crops, and sugar subsectors. He currently leads the Regulation and Compliance team, promoting best practices and facilitating trade. As a regulator, his insights will be valuable in fostering a well-structured, harmonized subsector.
Prof. Thuita Thenya
Director, Wangari Mathai institute of Peace and Environmental Studies (WMI)-UON
Prof. Thenya has been instrumental in developing WMI’s 2010–2020 strategic plan and curricula for Ph.D. and MSc programs in Environmental Governance. He has actively supported WMI through teaching, supervision, and coordinating the SLUSE experiential learning program. His collaboration with key partners like the Green Belt Movement, KEFRI, and the University of Copenhagen has significantly contributed to WMI’s growth. We look forward to learning from his experiences to benefit the macadamia subsector.
Ms. Nancy Cheruiyot
Managing Trustee and CEO, Commodities Fund
Nancy is the CEO and Managing Trustee of the Commodities Fund-Kenya, with over 10 years of experience in the commodities sector. A PhD candidate in Public Finance, she previously served as Executive Director at the Africa Fine Coffees Association. She is dedicated to boosting the competitiveness and sustainability of the sector by improving access to finance and markets. Her expertise in commodity investments will greatly enrich the conference discussions.
Ms. Charity Ndegwa
Director of Operations, Exotic EPZ Limited
Charity has over 12 years of experience in NGOs and entrepreneurship. She co-founded Exotic EPZ to promote the macadamia value chain by tapping into global market opportunities. As Director of Operations, she empowers smallholder farmers and champions sustainable rural development. Her work with women, youth, and service providers brings valuable insights into inclusive growth across the macadamia sector.
Frankline Omondi Ondiege
Founder & Chief Executive Officer East River Foods (EPZ) Limited (formerly Grow Fairly Limited)
Frankline Omondi is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at East River Foods (EPZ) Limited (formerly Grow Fairly Limited), an exporter of Macadamia, Cashew nuts, and Dried fruits (mainly to Europe and the US markets) operating from the Kenya coast.
Frank has spent the last few years spearheading East River Foods' growth and expansion in a challenging global nut market. Additionally, Frank has served in the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)—Africa and the Middle East.
Earlier, Frank spent more than 20 years in various industries, either in senior management or as a successful investor in Wildlife Conservation, Hospitality, Food Processing & export, and Agricultural production, which included working with thousands of smallholder farmers in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. He has also had a successful stint as a marketing advisor and Personal Assistant to the Hon Minister for Tourism, Government of Kenya.
Frank has a Bachelor of Science (Wildlife Management) Degree from Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya, and is an alumnus of the Stanford University Seed Program.
Speakers
