Samburu Agripreneur Nakayo Kone Earns National Recognition at FoodTec Africa Expo

By Wilson Amondo 

NAIROBI, Kenya,

 September 11, 2026 

 Nakayo Kone, a Samburu entrepreneur, is gaining national recognition as an emerging grassroots leader in Kenya’s evolving agribusiness sector after showcasing her enterprise at the 3rd Edition of the DairyTech Africa, FoodTec Africa Expo and National Agribusiness Summit in Nairobi.

Kone, Chief Officer and founder of Lomala Farm Enterprises in Samburu County, represented Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands at the three-day exhibition held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. The event brought together entrepreneurs, industry stakeholders, policymakers and development partners to explore opportunities in agriculture, food processing, dairy and value addition.

For Kone, the event was more than an exhibition. It provided a national platform to demonstrate how enterprises emerging from pastoral communities can contribute to food security, climate resilience and sustainable economic development when supported by the appropriate skills, networks and opportunities.

Kone credited the World Food Programme with playing a significant role in her journey, particularly through mentorship, capacity building and sustained support.

“I want to sincerely acknowledge the World Food Programme for its mentorship, capacity building and support. Whenever I have needed them, they have been there. They have contributed significantly to my achievements. As a woman from Samburu, this exposure has broadened my perspective,” Kone said.

Through Lomala Farm Enterprises, Kone is promoting agribusiness approaches suited to Samburu’s challenging climatic conditions, with a focus on climate-smart farming, dairy value chains, food processing and value addition.

Her participation at FoodTec Africa also demonstrated the significant potential within Kenya’s pastoral and marginalised communities, where agriculture and livestock remain central to household livelihoods but are often constrained by climate variability, limited market access and inadequate value-addition infrastructure.

By participating in a major national agribusiness platform, Kone is positioning Lomala Farm Enterprises within a broader conversation on how local enterprises can move beyond primary production and develop commercially viable value chains.

The FoodTec Africa Expo brought together stakeholders from the food processing, manufacturing and packaging sectors, while DairyTech Africa provided a platform for industry players to examine developments and opportunities within the dairy sector.

Kone’s presence at the exhibition reflected the growing recognition of women entrepreneurs from counties traditionally associated with pastoralism as important contributors to Kenya’s agricultural transformation.

Her story also highlights the role development partnerships can play in unlocking the entrepreneurial potential of women and young people in areas where access to technical expertise, markets and business networks remains limited.

 Kone's journey from Samburu to a national industry platform demonstrates what can be achieved when grassroots entrepreneurs receive sustained mentorship and opportunities to showcase their ideas.

She expressed her appreciation to WFP for investing in local capacity and supporting women-led enterprises, describing the partnership as an important contributor to her growth as an entrepreneur.

The exposure gained at the Nairobi exhibition is expected to further enhance Lomala Farm Enterprises’ visibility as it seeks to contribute to sustainable agribusiness, food security and livelihood diversification in Samburu and other ASAL communities.

Kone’s participation comes at a time when Kenya is seeking to strengthen agricultural value addition, improve food security and create commercially sustainable opportunities for communities affected by climate change.

Her emergence on the national stage offers a compelling reminder that some of Kenya’s most promising agribusiness ideas are taking shape far from the country’s traditional commercial centres.

From Samburu, Kone is taking that message to a wider audience: pastoral communities can be producers, processors, entrepreneurs and innovators in Kenya’s modern agricultural economy.