AFAP Announces Appointment of James Mutonyi as Chief Executive Officer



The African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) has announced the appointment of James Mutonyi as its Chief Executive Officer, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s evolution and long-term strategy.

Mutonyi succeeds Joseph Mwangangi, who has served as Interim CEO since late 2024 following the departure of the previous CEO. Mr. Mwangangi will continue to serve AFAP in an executive role, ensuring leadership continuity and sustained strategic direction.


James Mutonyi is a foundational figure in Africa’s agricultural market development ecosystem, with a professional journey closely intertwined with the origins of AFAP and its parallel market-systems work alongside the Agricultural Market Development Trust (AGMARK). His appointment reflects both continuity of AFAP’s mission and a renewed ambition to scale its impact as a leading African social enterprise.


A rural development expert and agricultural specialist with over 20 years of experience, Mr. Mutonyi has worked extensively with governments, private agricultural input companies, and development institutions to strengthen food systems and smallholder farmer livelihoods. He previously served as Managing Director of AGMARK in Kenya, Mozambique, and South Sudan, where he led enterprise-driven agricultural market interventions across diverse and challenging contexts.


Over the course of his career, Mr. Mutonyi has designed and implemented large-scale programmes in partnership with IFAD, AGRA, USAID, WFP, FAO, and COMESA, consistently advancing private-sector-led solutions that deliver sustainable impact.


As AFAP’s former Regional Director for East Africa, Mr. Mutonyi played a central role in expanding and professionalizing the organization’s hub-and-spoke agrodealer network, strengthening linkages between input suppliers, hub agrodealers, retail outlets, and last-mile farming communities. 


His leadership helped position AFAP as a trusted market intermediary capable of aligning commercial incentives with development outcomes.


“AFAP was built on the conviction that resilient agricultural markets are the foundation of smallholder success,” said Mr. Mutonyi. “As CEO, my focus will be on deepening our hub-and-spoke model, strengthening partnerships with input suppliers and agribusinesses, and firmly positioning AFAP as a prominent African social enterprise that delivers impact at scale with commercial discipline.”

  

Jason Scarpone, Founder and Board Member of AFAP, welcomed the appointment, noting the significance of the moment for the organization.


“James has been part of AFAP’s journey from its earliest days, bringing deep technical insight, integrity, and an unwavering belief in market-based solutions,” said Mr. Scarpone. “The Board has full confidence in his ability to lead AFAP into its next phase of growth, strengthen our partnerships across the continent, and ensure we remain true to our founding mission of serving Africa’s smallholder farmers through sustainable markets.”


Commenting on the transition, Interim CEO Joseph Mwangangi added, “James brings rare institutional knowledge, strong leadership, and a clear strategic vision. I look forward to continuing to support AFAP’s work in my ongoing executive role as the organization enters this new chapter.”


Mr. Mutonyi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Nairobi and a Diploma in Management from the University of Galilee.

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