Kenya supports a speedy resolution of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, President William Ruto has said.
“As part of the global community we have experienced the adverse effects of the conflict. The two countries have a wide scope of investment ties in agriculture, energy and ICT,” President Ruto said when he hosted Russia Ambassador to Kenya Dmitry Maksimychev at State House, Nairobi on Wednesday.
Not much details were available but Russia Embassy tweeted, “A very inspiring meeting. Thank you, Your Excellency, @WilliamsRuto!”.
Notably however, the meeting came a day after Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Martin Kimani said Russia’s move to suspend participation in the Black Sea grain deal makes life harsher for millions who are not party to the war in Ukraine.
“It undermines global food security, particularly in the most fragile countries and regions,” Ambassador Kimani told the UNSC.
He urged the resumption of resumption of the Black Sea Grain Initiative for the sake of global food security.
He invited UN secretary general Antonio Guterres to establish a fact-finding mechanism to investigate/report actions threatening the initiative.
The meeting also came at a time President Ruto is struggling to fulfill his promises on lowering the cost of maize floor and fuel.
Russia last month exported to Kenya 940,000 bags of fertilizer at a cost of Sh5.2 billion.
While the fertilizer landed in Kenya at Sh5,617 for 50kg it was to be sold to farmers at subsidised rate of at Sh3,500 under the government-backed scheme.
The consignment was an addition to 720,000 bags the Kenya Tea Development Agency received in September.
It is expected that President Ruto will continue engaging countries supplying cheaper fertilizer such as Russia and Morroco.
Kenya imports from Russia of fertilizer was $33.21 million in 2021, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.
The President in September said he was also open to buying oil from Russia.
“I am now going to move on to the agenda of making sure that we have government-to-government relationships that will progressively now begin the journey to bring the prices of fuel down,” President Ruto said.
He added: “All options are available to us as a country.”
