Meet our Global Ambassador from Kenya: Fred Munene a.k.a. ‘Farm with Fred’

Nearly 700 million people live without electricity, while a billion more live with access that is unaffordable or unreliable. The opportunity to change that by powering businesses, creating jobs and driving economic growth, and by building AI-enabled, renewables-ready power systems, is historic.

The energy transition looks different in every part of the world, and it requires locally anchored knowledge and country-led solutions to get it right. Our new ambassadors bring ground level perspectives to the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. Coming from Africa, Asia and Latin America, they use their voices and platforms to highlight the people, ideas and solutions shaping a fast and fair energy transition.

Meet Fred Munene, a.k.a. Farm with Fred, an agriculture influencer in Kenya.

Q. Please introduce yourself and explain how you came to work on climate, energy and agriculture.

A. I was born and raised in Kenya on a subsistence farm that fed our family and paid school fees for me and my siblings. From a young age, I understood that a good harvest meant food on the table and fees paid on time. A poor harvest meant difficult decisions.

Today, I am an agronomist, farmer, trainer and agricultural influencer. Through ‘Farm with Fred’ I work with farmers across Kenya and Africa, sharing practical knowledge on profitable farming, climate-smart agriculture, technology and sustainable food production.

My childhood taught me the lesson that guides my work: agriculture is not only about producing food. It is about livelihoods, dignity, education and the future of families.

Q. When did you first feel the need to share your commitment to climate action and clean energy with the world?

A. My commitment to climate action grew from what I saw on farms. I noticed real changes in weather patterns. Rainfall became less predictable and we experienced longer dry periods, leaving farmers unsure of when to plant or how to manage their crops.

This worried me. Africa has land, water and abundant sunshine, yet millions of farmers still depend heavily on unreliable rainfall and expensive fossil-fuel-powered equipment.

For me, part of the answer is renewable energy. I began adopting solar energy on my own farm – including solar irrigation – and started showing other farmers what clean energy looks like in practical agricultural production. My message is simple: climate action needs to reach the farm with solutions farmers can understand, afford and use every day.

Q. Was there a particular moment or experience that shaped how you think about climate and energy?

A. Food insecurity has shaped the way I think about climate and energy. When you come from a farming family, you understand quickly how climate affects food.

Climate action and energy access are not separate from agriculture. If we want a food-secure Africa, we need farmers who have reliable energy for irrigation, cold storage, processing and other productive activities.

Q. What achievement are you most proud of?

A. My biggest achievement is as a farmer, producing food throughout the year, including during periods of drought.

Beyond my own farm, I am proudest when I see others changing the way they work: when a farmer adopts solar irrigation, improves water management, reduces dependence on diesel or changes a production practice because of something they learned from me.

My work is about taking climate action from the conference room to the farm. I want farmers to see renewable energy as a productive investment.

Q. Why did you decide to join this ambassador program?

A. Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet is working to expand clean energy while creating economic opportunities and improving livelihoods, and its work in Kenya already includes solar-powered irrigation and other productive uses of renewable energy in agriculture.

I saw the ambassador program as an opportunity to take the climate and clean energy conversation to more farmers, young people and communities across Africa. For me, this partnership is about turning knowledge into action.

Q. What impact do you hope to have on your followers and Global Energy Alliance’s followers?

A. I want farmers and young people to see climate action as something practical and achievable. I want more farmers to adopt solar-powered irrigation, renewable energy for farm operation, efficient water management, climate-smart farming practices, solar-powered cold storage and processing, and technologies that reduce production costs and improve resilience.

I especially want young Africans to see agriculture and clean energy as areas where they can build careers, businesses and innovation.

Q. What kind of future do you hope we can create for people and planet?

A. I want to see an Africa where farmers produce food with greater certainty, even as the climate changes. I also want young people to see climate action as an economic opportunity. The future I want is one where clean energy supports food production, creates jobs, strengthens rural economies and improves the lives of ordinary people.

Q. How does climate change and lack of clean energy impact everyday lives in Kenya?

A. Climate change is already affecting everyday life for Kenyan farmers. Energy access adds another layer to the problem. A farmer who depends on diesel to pump water faces high and unpredictable operating costs. A farmer without reliable electricity struggles with irrigation, refrigeration, processing and storage such that produce is more likely to spoil or be sold quickly at a poor price.

This is why I see clean energy as part of the food security solution. Global Energy Alliance’s work in Kenya recognizes this connection by supporting solar-powered irrigation, milling, refrigeration and cold rooms to strengthen agricultural productivity and resilience. Across Africa, the opportunity is even bigger.

Keep up with Fred!

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