By Melton Konchella
Kenya is set to take centre stage in global agriculture after confirmation that the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) Annual Meeting will be held in Nairobi from 8–11 June 2026.
The global gathering will be hosted by the Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
The meeting, themed “Future Fields: Investing in Farmers’ Organisations and Empowering Communities for Sustainable Agriculture,” will bring together leaders of farmers’ organisations from over 65 countries, alongside policymakers, financial institutions, private sector players, scientists, and multilateral agencies.
Welcoming the announcement, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe described Kenya’s selection as a recognition of the country’s farmers and their role in food security and economic growth.
“We welcome this meeting in June in Kenya. It is an honour for our country,” Kagwe said. “Farming is no longer about subsistence. Farming is about money. It is about decent earnings. It is about commercial transformation powered by young people and technology,” he added.
He emphasised the central role farmers play in the global food system. “People across the world rarely think about how food gets to their table.
But somewhere, a farmer has put in sweat and blood. Food security and food independence depend entirely on farmers. When we say ‘farmer first,’ we make different and better policy decisions,” he said.
The Nairobi meeting is expected to focus on youth engagement in agriculture, digital innovation, soil health, fair international agricultural trade, and the urgent need to unlock financing that reaches farmers directly.
WFO Secretary General Andrea Porro said the annual meeting remains a farmer-led global platform grounded in real-life experiences.
“Financing still fails to reach farmers adequately. We cannot talk about sustainability without ensuring farmers earn decent incomes. Farming is not a hobby it is a profession that must provide dignified livelihoods,” Porro said.
He added that attracting young people into farming remains a global challenge.
“Feeding people is the most noble career. Europe and Africa are among our largest constituencies and Kenya has been a lighthouse for farmer organisation and innovation,” he said.
Founded in 1946 and widely known as Sauti ya Mkulima (The Farmers’ Voice), KENAFF will anchor the event as Kenya’s official representative to the WFO.
The federation continues to play a key role in strengthening farmers’ advocacy, policy influence, and empowerment at ward, county, and national levels.
The 2026 WFO Annual Meeting is expected to cement Kenya’s position as a continental and global leader in farmer-driven, technology-powered commercial agriculture.