The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) on Monday, April 17, announced vessels expected to dock at the Port of Mombasa within two weeks.
Among the ships expected at the port is MV Ability which will be carrying imported bulk wheat.
The MV Ability according to KPA will arrive on Tuesday, April 18, which is two days after MV Guardian docked at the same port carrying 48,000 tons of white maize.
The quick succession of the arrival of ships at the country’s main port came after President William Ruto announced that his government had imported tonnes of cheap food to cushion Kenyans from the high cost of living.
“I know we have a big debate across the country about the cost of living and how we need to reduce food prices.
“As a government, we have imported a lot of food and beginning this week, it will get to the market,” the President assured the country on Sunday, April 9.
Apart from MV Ability the country will also welcome two fishing vessels MV Newfound Alert and MV Vega on Monday, April 17 and Tuesday, April 18, respectively.
KPA further announced that a fuel ship would dock in the country on the same day as MV Ability.
MV Melody will arrive in the country carrying fuel from the Middle East on Tuesday, April 18.
This would be the third fuel consignment under the government-to-government deal after the country received two crude oil tankers on Thursday, April 13.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua while receiving the previous fuel vessels announced that the shipment would ease pressure on the dollar.
“The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) entered into with prospective governments will ensure a continuous supply of Petroleum Products on an extended credit period of 180 days.
“This agreement, which has been formulated by our top economists, will relieve the pressure on our country's dollar reserves because the demand for this currency to purchase oil will considerably go down,” the DP announced back then.
The government will also boost farmers with the arrival of fertilizer-carrying ships.
On Tuesday, April 18, MV Seastar Tradition will dock at the port loaded with fertilizer and a week later on Tuesday, April 25, MV African Robin will dock carrying a similar consignment.
On February 5, Ruto announced that over 5 million Kenyans would continue receiving subsidized fertilizer in an effort to reduce the cost of production with the hope that it causes a spiral effect and push down the prices of food.
