Key facts
- The U.S. has donated nearly 50,000 tonnes of wheat and rice to Kenya.
- The donation is part of the U.S. Food for Progress program, which monetizes donated commodities for development projects.
- Wheat from the shipment will be sold to Kenyan millers and processors.
- Proceeds will support Kenyan livestock producers and U.S. sorghum farmers.
- The U.S. Food for Education program has previously supplied rice for school lunches in Kenya.
The United States has donated nearly 50,000 tonnes of wheat and rice to Kenya through its Food for Progress program, a U.S. government initiative aimed at improving food security, supporting agricultural development, and expanding trade. The U.S.-flagged vessel Liberty Grace delivered hard red winter wheat to the Port of Mombasa, where it was observed by Susan M. Burns, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.
The wheat will be sold to regional millers, with the proceeds used to benefit Kenyan livestock producers and suppliers of animal feed ingredients, including U.S. sorghum farmers. This monetization strategy is a key component of the program, designed to foster economic growth and create future buyers for U.S. agricultural exports.
Historically, American farmers have advocated for using commodity donations to support market development abroad. The Food for Progress program, established under the Food Security Act of 1985, allows the USDA to donate U.S. food commodities to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for development projects. Counterpart International, for instance, was awarded 69,600 metric tons of U.S. wheat for its Livestock Innovation and Feed Transformation (LIFT) Project in Kenya.
Past U.S. food assistance efforts in Kenya include the McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program, which provided school lunches for over 1 million children using U.S.-grown commodities like rice. Representatives from USA Rice and U.S. Wheat Associates have visited these programs, noting the significant demand for U.S. rice among refugees at the Kakuma Refugee Camp and the potential for developing future commercial markets in East Africa.