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The United Nations has named Farayi Zimudzi as the new Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Kenya, during a period when the nation is facing climate-related challenges, rising food costs, and the critical need to upgrade its agricultural system.

FarayiZimudzi officially submitted her credentials to Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi in Nairobi, signaling the beginning of her role as FAO’s country representative.

Her appointment arrives at a crucial time for Kenya’s agricultural sector, which directly contributes approximately 33 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and an additional 27 percent indirectly via connections with manufacturing, distribution, and other services, as per official statistics.

The industry provides jobs for over 40 percent of the overall population and more than 70 percent of Kenyans living in rural areas.

Yet agriculture remains very susceptible to climate fluctuations. In 2023 and 2024, extended dry periods resulted in approximately 4.4 million Kenyans experiencing severe food shortages at their worst, as reported by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA).

Despite recent rainfall that has enhanced circumstances in certain areas, unpredictable weather trends still pose a risk to output.

During the credential presentation, Mudavadi stated that agriculture continues to be a key component of the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which focuses on food security, development of value chains, and increasing farmer incomes.

“FAO is a crucial partner in aiding Kenya’s initiatives to modernize its agrifood systems and enhance resilience to climate change,” he stated, noting that the government aims to strengthen cooperation in areas like digital farmer registration, land management, and sustainable production.

Zimudzis stated that her attention will be directed towards enhancing food systems, increasing farmers’ access to services, and promoting policy decisions grounded in research.

“My appointment occurs at a time when Kenya is carrying out significant reforms in the agricultural sector. FAO continues to be dedicated to collaborating closely with both national and county governments to promote food security, sustainable livelihoods, and inclusive rural development,” she stated.

The Food and Agriculture Organization has been backing projects like the Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (KIAMIS), a digital tool designed to register farmers in order to enhance the accuracy of subsidy distribution and extension service delivery.

The UN agency has also collaborated with the government on the Digital Land Governance Program, aimed at simplifying land records and improving security of tenure, a long-standing issue impacting agricultural output.

Zimudzi, who was selected by FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu starting January 11, 2026, has over three decades of expertise in agriculture, aquaculture, and rural development throughout Africa.

A Zimbabwean citizen, she succeeds Tipo Nyabenyi, who had been acting as FAO Representative to Kenya. Zimudzi possesses a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a Master of Science in Aquaculture.

Prior to her assignment in Kenya, she worked as the FAO Representative in Namibia from December 2017 until August 2022. Subsequently, she relocated to Ethiopia, taking on the position of FAO Representative in October 2022.

In September 2023, after the previous FAO Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa left, she was temporarily appointed to hold the roles of FAO Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa and FAO Representative to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).