Kenya’s Dennis Andaye Honored at World Farmers Markets Coalition Awards in Rome.
Rome, Italy – November 2025:
The international farmers markets community gathered in Rome for the Third General Assembly of the World Farmers Markets Coalition (WorldFMC), where the 2025 WorldFMC Awards celebrated outstanding achievements in creating fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable food systems.
The annual awards recognize individuals, markets, and cities that embody the principles of local food systems from biodiversity and community resilience to short supply chains, environmental regeneration, and equitable access to nutritious food.
This year’s honorees a farmer from Peru, a market manager from Kenya, and the city of Rome exemplify how local initiatives can spark global change in the way food is produced, shared, and consumed.
Among the distinguished winners was Dennis Andaye, the driving force behind Farmers Market Nairobi, who received the Best Market Manager Award 2025.
For over 15 years, Andaye has demonstrated exceptional leadership in building and managing farmers markets across Nairobi. His efforts have transformed these spaces into vibrant community hubs where farmers, families, and consumers connect around locally produced food.
One of Andaye’s most transformative innovations is the digital vendor management system, which streamlines farmer registration, stall allocation, and data collection. The system has improved transparency and efficiency while making market operations more scalable and data-driven.
He also launched Harvest Hour, an initiative that attracts larger crowds and diversifies market offerings. Collaborating with local media, Andaye co-created the popular “Taste Off” cooking show, filmed live at the market and broadcast on major TV stations. These creative projects have strengthened community bonds and turned the market into a cultural destination as much as a commercial one.
Andaye’s commitment extends beyond market logistics. He has introduced a system to collect unsold produce at the end of each market day and redistribute it to families in need ensuring that no fresh food goes to waste. To sustain the effort, he is working on a community fund that will keep the initiative running year-round.
Furthermore, Andaye has mentored a new generation of market managers, helping to expand the farmers market model into unconventional urban spaces from streets and restaurants to shopping malls. His partnership with the MAMi Project has become a blueprint for scaling farmers markets across Africa, empowering smallholder farmers and creating new economic opportunities in cities.
In recognizing him, the WorldFMC noted, “Dennis’s vision breaks barriers cultural, bureaucratic, and economic proving that farmers markets can be powerful engines of inclusive urban development.”
