Long before global recognition arrived, their work was already changing lives across farms, factories, boardrooms, and rural communities.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Now, five Kenyan women are stepping onto the international stage after being nominated for the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO)  100 Women Heroines of 2026, a prestigious global recognition under the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026.

The nominations shine a spotlight not just on individual achievement but also on the growing influence of Kenyan women in shaping the future of agriculture, food security, and sustainability across Africa.

Among them is Paloma Fernandes, CEO of the Cereal Millers Association, alongside Jane Maigua, CEO of Exotic EPZ and former Chair of the Macadamia Nuts Association of Kenya (MacNut).

📌 What You Need to Know

Also included are Dr Zipporah Gitonga of Mazao Na Afya Agrochemicals, Dr Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Africa Managing Director at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT/CGIAR, and Sheila Komen-Keino, CEO of Sustain Africa.

The FAO  100 Women Heroines of 2026 is a global recognition initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, launched under the International Year of the Woman Farmer, 2026.

It celebrates women from around the world who are driving change in agriculture, food systems, and rural development through leadership, innovation, and impact.

The recognition is not a financial award but a prestigious global list that highlights influential women in farming, agribusiness, research, and policy.

Its main purpose is to spotlight the role of women in transforming food systems , address gender gaps in agriculture, and inspire stronger support for sustainable and inclusive agricultural development worldwide.

At the center of the recognition are women leading transformation from very different corners of the agricultural ecosystem across the continent, while inspiring the next generation of women in agriculture.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke