NAIROBI, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) on Tuesday named Kenyan farmer and agricultural innovator Bornface Otieno Owino its 2026 Person of the Year for advancing ten Sustainable Development Goals.
Owino, from Homa Bay County in western Kenya, is the first person under the age of 30 to receive the award.
The prestigious honor is presented annually to an individual or institution whose contributions significantly advance the UN 2030 Agenda.
The runner-up was Kevin Wekesa, a Kenyan rugby sevens player and Olympian who founded Play Green, a sports-based sustainability initiative that plants trees, promotes recycling to reduce plastic waste, and encourages eco-friendly mobility during sporting events.
During the ceremony, senior UN officials acknowledged Owino's leadership in transforming community-led agriculture around the Lake Victoria basin.
Zainab Hawa Bangura, director-general of UNON, noted that Owino's dedication, innovation, and excellence exemplify the progressive leadership of a younger generation vital to societal transformation.
"We are proud of your success and confident that your contribution will continue to inspire others," Bangura said.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya Garry Conille noted that the award reaffirms the vital role of collective action in driving sustainable and inclusive development.
Owino began farming in 2021 through the Cereal Growers Association, cultivating grains, tomatoes, and other horticultural crops.
By adopting climate-smart agricultural models, such as certified seeds, efficient irrigation, soil conservation, and integrated pest management, he has successfully boosted crop yields while protecting local land resources.
Today, his farm serves as a demonstration site where he trains and mentors young farmers. He also partners with UN Women to supply local subsistence farmers with fish fingerlings and modern agricultural techniques.
UN Women Deputy Representative in Kenya Dan Bazira noted that Owino's achievements demonstrate how true progress is measured not merely in quantitative terms, but in the dignity, opportunity, and equality secured for every individual.
Since 2002, the awards ceremony has been held annually on UN Day, which marks the founding of the United Nations on Oct. 24, 1945. ■
