The Ukrainian government is set to establish a grain hub at the Port of Mombasa in Kenya in a move to help address food shortage in the country and the rest of the East Africa region.
The announcement was made yesterday by His Excellency DR. William Samoei Ruto, Kenya’s President after bilateral talks with his counterpart, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York City where the two leaders are attending the 78th UN General Assembly.
“In New York, United States held talks with Ukraine President Zelensky who committed to establishing a grain hub in the Port of Mombasa to address food shortage in East Africa,” said Ruto.
Ukraine is one of the world’s biggest producers of grain such as sunflower oil, barley, maize and wheat.
Following the February 2022 invasion by Russia, the enemy navy blockaded Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, trapping 20 million tonnes of grain which were meant for export.
This has led to a shortage of grains in global grain markets, which has strained food supplies in regions reliant on Ukrainian grain.
The partnership aims to address an ongoing food scarcity crisis which has been exacerbated by various factors, including climate change, political instability and disruptions in global supply chains.
The establishment of a grain hub in the Port of Mombasa is expected to facilitate the efficient importation and distribution of grain, ensuring a more stable and reliable food supply for East African nations.
Ruto said Kenya advocates for a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict to restore stability, alleviate the suffering of the people and stop the destruction of property.
“We believe the resolution of the conflict is a priority for the world and essential to advancing the shared prosperity of all humanity,” he said.
In his Tuesday itinerary, President Ruto also held talks with the President of the World Bank Ajay Banga.
Humanitarian aid
In March 2023, Ukraine sent 30,000 tonnes of grain to Kenya as part of ‘Grain from Ukraine’ humanitarian programme, amidst the worst drought in the Horn of Africa in 40 years.
The fifth maize shipment from Ukraine was received in Mombasa by Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, member of the International Coordination Group for the Prevention of Hunger, and Ambassadors from the donor countries to the programme.
The shipment was supported by the UN World Food Programme, with financial assistance from the governments of the UK, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
