The country has received a donation of 30,000 metric tonnes of wheat from Ukraine to cushion families against the prolonged drought and famine.

The wheat donation is part of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s ‘Grain from Ukraine’ (GfU) humanitarian programme.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua received the fifth maize shipment from Ukraine Monday by together with Dr Christopher Fomunyoh, a member of the International Coordination Group for the Prevention of Hunger (ICGPH), and Ambassadors from the donor countries to the programme.

This shipment was supported by the UN World Food Program (WFP) with financial assistance from the governments of the United Kingdom, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.

According to the Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office and Chairman of the International Coordination Group for the Prevention of Hunger Andriy Yermak the shipment is intended to enhance their commitment to tackling forced famine across Africa’s most vulnerable nations.

“ While we continue to defend our nation against external aggression, we have not forgotten our humanitarian obligation towards our allies in time of need," he said.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, over 5.4 million people in Kenya will likely experience acute food insecurity in March and June this year.

About 970,200 children will likely suffer from acute malnutrition in 2023.

The #GrainFromUkrain (GfU) programme was launched by President Zelenskyy in November 2022, to provide much-needed assistance to nations affected by the ongoing global food crisis.

Since the beginning of its launch, the programme has delivered over 140,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat to Africa’s struggling nations.

With financial support from the governments of the United Kingdom, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic, the UN World Food Program (WFP) was able to support this shipment.