Ng'ombe Ashibe, Pesa Ziongezeke

"I speak from the soil and stand for the sector."

In the heart of Kenya’s dairy and fodder sector lies a silent struggle—unpredictable rains, shrinking pastures, and feed that costs more than it earns. I have lived this reality, and that’s why I lead AFPA not as a title, but as a calling. As Chairman, I envision a sector where dairy productivity no longer bends to feed shortages, where farmers grow their own prosperity—one fodder plot at a time. AFPA is not just responding to a crisis; we are reshaping a sector. We are proving that when the fodder system works, the dairy economy thrives.

"Finance is the backbone of a resilient fodder-dairy value chain."

I don’t just account for money—I account for impact. Every coin must help a farmer plant better, harvest smarter, or feed more efficiently. The dairy sector relies heavily on stable feed systems, and I ensure that our books reflect that urgency. I help make AFPA financially strong so that we can build a dependable foundation for every fodder producer and dairy farmer who counts on us. Because behind every litre of milk is a well-fed cow—and behind that cow is a system we must fund with integrity.

"Structure gives the sector strength."

I serve to ensure that our commitment to the fodder and dairy industry is not only spoken, but documented, reviewed, and honored. My responsibility is to keep our governance aligned to our goals: empowering farmers, de-risking feed production, and uniting value chain actors. The dairy sector is fast-changing, and fodder is its lifeline. My work ensures AFPA responds with order, policy, and unity of purpose—so that every decision we make supports sustainable systems from the ground to the market.

 "I lead with urgency because the sector needs solutions now."

The dairy industry is built on feed. Without consistent, affordable fodder, everything else falters—productivity, profits, even farmer morale. As CEO, I lead AFPA with one mission: to industrialize fodder, professionalize feed systems, and uplift every farmer who wakes up worrying about tomorrow’s bale. I collaborate with cooperatives, counties, and private sector actors to make fodder not just available, but investable. We are positioning this sector—not for subsistence—but for agri-enterprise, for climate resilience, and for national food security.

"I see the industry not just as it is, but as it could be."

Fodder and dairy are no longer informal backbones—they are strategic industries with enormous potential. My job is to unlock that potential. I design partnerships, pitch investment-ready models, and bring in actors who see value in growing feed, not just selling milk. I work to ensure that youth can enter this space as agribusiness owners, that smallholder cooperatives can scale through fodder aggregation and that donors see us as a catalyst for food system transformation. When we build this industry right, the entire rural economy grows.