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Event Programme

Day 1

21st May 2025

Opening Ceremony & Industry Overview

Time	Activity/Topic	Moderator
8:00–8:30 A.M.	Delegates Arrival, Registration & Networking	Secretariat
8:30 – 11:00 A.M.	🎭 Opening Ceremony and Entertainment Welcoming Remarks: Prof. Daniel Mugendi Njiru, Ph.D., EBS—Vice Chancellor Embu University Dr. Bruno Linyiru, OGW—Director General, Agriculture and Food Authority. Hon. Cornelly Serem—Chairman, Agriculture and Food Authority. Hon. Cecily Mbarire, EGH—Governor, Embu County Address by the Chief Guest Prof. Kithure Kindiki—Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya	MC Ms. Anne Gikonyo Director Nuts and Oil Crops Directorate (AFA)
11:00 – 11:30 A.M.	☕ Health Break / Networking / Exhibition
11:30 A.M.–1:00 P.M.	Session 1: Status of the Macadamia Industry The Kenyan Perspective Johnson Muhara – Afrimac Nut Company Limited The Global Perspective WMO Larry McHugh – Chief Executive Officer World Macadamia Organisation (WMO)	MC
1:00 – 2:00 P.M.	🍽 Lunch Break
2:15–4:00 P.M.	Session 2: Enhancing Macadamia Production and Quality Topic: Towards Sustainable and Competitive Farming Speaker: Mr. James Wachihi – CEC, Agriculture, Nyeri County and Agriculture CECs Caucus Chair Session Panelists: John Ndwiga Nyaga – CEC Agriculture, Embu County Anthony Nyaga – Research Officer, KALRO, Kandara Mathias Muinde – General Manager, Kakuzi PLc Mr. Gitonga Gathua – Mt. Kenya, Macadamia Farmer	Ms. Lily Langat Deputy Director, Technical Advisory Services (AFA)
4:00 P.M.	🔚 Closing Remarks / Health Break / Close of Day 1

Day 2

22nd May 2025

Market Access, Regulations & Climate Resilience

Time	Activity/Topic	Moderator
8:30 – 9:00 A.M.	🔄 Opening Session & Recap of Day 1	MC
9:00 – 10:30 A.M	Session 3: Strategies for Market Access Topic: Building Competitive and Sustainable Markets for Macadamia Products Speaker: Mr. Joseph Mulupi – Consultant, Center for the Promotion of Imports (CBI), Netherlands Session Panelists: Jane Maigua – Chairperson Macadamia Nuts Processor Association (MACNUT) Aleksandar Jovanovic – Development Consultant, Center for the Promotion of Imports (CBI) Ms. Floice Mukabana – Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Exports Promotion and branding Agency (KEPROBA	Mr. Charles Muigai -Director, World Macadamia organization (WMO)
10:30 – 11:00 A.M.	☕ Health Break / Networking / Exhibition
11:00 – 12:45 P.M.	Session 4: Regulatory compliance & trade policies Topic: Aligning Industry Standards with Global Trade Requirements Speaker: Mr. Vincent Chirchir – Regulations and Compliance Manager, Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Session Panelists: John Kabue – Acting Head of the Department for Quality Assurance, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) Erick Were – Plant inspector at Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) Mr. Njue Njagi – County Executive Committee Member (CEC) Agriculture, Tharaka Nithi County	Mr. David Waithaka – Quality Assurance Manager, Kenya Nut Company ltd.
12:45 – 2:00 P.M.	🍽 Lunch Break
2:00 – 4:00 P.M.	Session 5: Climate Resilience & Sustainability in Macadamia Farming Topic: Adapting to climate change for long-term growth Speaker: Prof. Thuita Thenya – Director, Wangari Mathai institute of Peace and Environmental Studies (UON) Session Panelists: Pacifica F. Achieng Ogola—Director, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Peter Wangara – Project Manager, LIMBUA Deutschland GmbH/LIMBUA Group Limited Dr. Rebecca Yegon—Chair, Department of water and agricultural resource management Embu University	Mr. Victor Ndiege Director, Kenya Climate Ventures Limited
4:00 P.M.	Break/Preparation for Cocktail Session	All Delegates
6:00–8:30 P.M.	🍸 Cocktail & Networking Session 6:00–8:30 P.M. Networking Close of Day 2

Day 3

23rd May 2025

Youth, Women, and Industry Growth

Time	Activity/Topic	Moderator
8:30 – 9:00 A.M.	🔄 Opening Session & Recap of Day 2	MC
9:00 – 10:00 A.M.	Session 6: Financing Investments in the Macadamia Value Chain Topic: Unlocking macadamia industry growth through financial support Speaker: Ms. Nancy Cheruiyot – Managing Trustee and CEO at Commodities Fund-Kenya, Session Panelists Joackim Kimani Ngere – Finance Manager Nawiri SACCO Embu Caroline Koech – Officer of Business Development in Africa, Root Capital Ms. Debora Sitati – Administrator, Onja Uone ltd	Mr. Isaac Waititu General Manager Afrimac Nut Company
10:30 – 11:00 A.M.	☕ Health Break / Networking / Exhibition	All Participants
11:00 – 12:30 P.M	Session 7: Youth & Women in Macadamia Industry Topic: Empowering the Next Generation of Agripreneurs Speaker: Ms. Charity Ndegwa – Director of Operations Exotic EPZ Limited Panelists: David Gitonga Maina – Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Edited Facta Nuts and Fruits Ltd John Mwirigi – Director, Superfine Africa Nuts Jacinta Ngwiri – Project coordinator, Empowering Novel Agribusiness-Led Employment (ENABLE) Youth Kenya Program Macadamia Youth Farmer	Ms. Rose Rono Trade smart Consult Ltd for CBI
12:30 – 1:15 P.M.	🛣️ Strategic Growth Roadmap for the Industry	Innocent Masira
1:15 – 1:45 P.M.	🏅 Awards Ceremony	Lily Langat
1:45 – 2:00 P.M.	🎤 Conference Closing Remarks	Director General AFA
2:00 – 3:00 P.M.	🍽 Lunch Break	All Delegates

Downloadable Resources

National Macadamia Conference Program

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