Crown Agents has been appointed as procurement agent by the Government of Japan and the Government of Kenya for Japan's Kennedy Round (KR) Food Aid project in Kenya.
In liaison with the Kenyan Minister of Agriculture (MOA), Crown Agents handled the procurement of the maize, together with the specification and tender preparation process.
A ceremony to mark the handing over of the first consignment of non-GMO white maize was held at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Changamwe, Mombasa, on August 13th. The Japanese Ambassador to Kenya, Mr Takata, alongside the Kenyan MOA Dr. Sally Kosgey, presided over the service, where 15,981 metric tonnes (177,500 bags) of non-GMO white maize were handed over under the KR Food Aid Kenya 2009 Round 2.
As part of the total US$15.8 million Food Aid assistance grant, 
10% of the maize consignment was distributed as relief to the worst hit families in the coast region of Kenya, who had been badly affected by the ensuing famine. Volunteers from the Kenya Red Cross and Catholic Relief Services assisted in distributing the relief after helping to identify those most in need.