Kenya and Ukraine are strengthening ties despite challenges caused by
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Kenya Andrii Pravednyk
has said.
Speaking on Tuesday, Pravednyk noted that
diplomatic and trade relations, which have existed since 1993, are steadily
recovering.
He highlighted agriculture, education and trade as priority areas of
cooperation, emphasising Ukraine’s commitment to expanding opportunities for
Kenyan students.
“We have had our embassy here in your beautiful
country for more than 20 years. We have good relations in different
spheres, but agriculture, one of the main of them,” he said during an interview
on Radio Generation.
Before the war, Ukraine exported large volumes of wheat and maize to Kenya.
Pravednyk explained that exports briefly halted
after the invasion in February 2022 but later resumed through new logistical
routes.
In March 2023, Ukraine delivered 25,000 tons of wheat to Kenya under the
Grain from Ukraine program initiated by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
On trade recovery, Pravednyk said volumes have
not yet returned to pre-war levels.
“In 2021, the trade turnover between Ukraine and Kenya amounted to 221
million dollars, which was a record high. Now, for 2024, we reach the volume of
bilateral trade to amount of 145 million dollars, which is still 70 million
dollars less than before the invasion,” he said.
Education remains another key area of
collaboration. Hundreds of Kenyan students studied in Ukraine before the
invasion, though many had to leave.
“Some of them returned to Ukraine, especially to areas which are more or
less relatively safe, and they continue their studies. We hope that, when the
security situation allows, many Kenyan students will come back, as well
as many new potential students will apply to Ukrainian universities,” he said.
Ukraine is negotiating a bilateral education
agreement with Kenya and plans to offer a limited number of full scholarships
to Kenyan students.
President William Ruto reaffirmed Kenya’s
commitment to strengthening relations with Ukraine during bilateral talks with
former Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Seville, Spain, in June 2025.
Ruto emphasised collaboration in education, food security, trade and ICT,
and Kenya’s interest in using its strategic location to distribute key
commodities across the region.
Pravednyk expressed gratitude to Kenya for its
continued support during the conflict, praising both the government and the citizens
for their solidarity.
He highlighted Kenya’s diplomatic backing in international forums, including
consistent votes in favour of Ukrainian initiatives at the United Nations and
participation in peace efforts such as last year’s summit in Switzerland, where
President Ruto chaired a panel on food security.
“It’s important to underline that Ukraine is grateful to Kenya as a country, to Kenyan political leadership, and what
most importantly for me is to ordinary Kenyan people for your support of
Ukraine during these challenging times at the level of the government,”
Pravednyk said.
He also commended ordinary Kenyans for
contributing to Ukraine’s humanitarian efforts through the United 24 program.
“For us, it was not important, and still not important at all, whether it’s a donation of Sh20 or Sh10,000. Many ordinary Kenyans donated whatever
they could for the good cause of supporting Ukraine,” he said.
The
funds have been used to provide humanitarian aid, including medical assistance
and support for people who lost their homes.
