A Kenyan farm manager was on Wednesday awarded for leading the best innovative and sustainable agricultural practices at the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) in the USA.
Kevin Getobai of Ololo Farm and Lodge was recognised as part of the 2024 Standard Developmental Goals(SDG) Pioneer winners by the United Nations Global Compact for his transformative work in sustainable agriculture.
Getobai received the prestigious award during the Leaders Summit held at the UN General Assembly in New York and became the third global winner from Kenya to scoop the award since 2019.
He won in the Africa Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs) category for spearheading innovative sustainable agricultural practices focusing on innovative farming techniques that address food security and environmental sustainability.
The night lodge located in Kenya offers exclusive accommodation and camping services for locals and tourists where one can rent the whole property with the capacity to accommodate up to 35 people at a go at the rate of Ksh1.3 million a night.
The lodge, however, does not accommodate less than two people a night.
Getobai's work includes using Black Soldier Flies (BSF) for organic waste composting and transforming waste into valuable organic manure and animal protein caught the attention of the jurists.
The jurists at the event were targeting individuals with SMEs whose innovation can drive impactful change in sustainable agriculture.
He emerged as a winner from a pool of 12 other contestants majorly from regions outside the African Continent.
Organisers of the awards led by Sanda Ojiambo, the Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, commended Getobai for his unique innovative approach to business.
They also commended him for showcasing Kenya’s commitment to sustainable development and setting a good example of how business can be a force for good.
“These SDG Pioneers are leading the way in showing that business can be a force for good. Their innovative approaches and unwavering commitment to sustainability are inspiring examples of how the private sector can contribute to achieving the SDGs.”
