Business Desk 
A Team from the United Nations(UN) made a site visit to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to view the proposed site for the creation of a UN Humanitarian Logistics Hub with the support of Kenya Airports Authority.
The Hub will be the first on the African Continent. The other three (3) are in Dubai, Copenhagen, Brindisi in Italy. Locating the hub in Kenya will provide for speedy delivery of life saving aid to conflict regions and areas of humanitarian crises on the continent and other regions in the global south.
The vision is a humanitarian logistics hub and corridor spanning from Mombasa to Naivasha through Nairobi. It main objective will be to support regional humanitarian activities.
To achieve this grand plan the representatives from the United Nations (UN) convened with officials from the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) to work out the modalities for establishing the Hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The discussions, held earlier today, were chaired by the KAA Board Chairman, Hon. Caleb Kositany and focused on enhancing humanitarian operations in the region.
The proposed UN Humanitarian Logistics Hub will bolster logistical support for humanitarian efforts, facilitating the swift and efficient distribution of humanitarian supplies during crises and emergencies in the global south. With its strategic location at JKIA, the hub would serve as a central point for coordinating relief efforts, leveraging the airport’s extensive infrastructure and connectivity.
During the meeting, both parties expressed keen interest in strengthening collaboration to address humanitarian challenges effectively.
The UN delegation highlighted the importance of establishing a dedicated logistics hub to streamline aid delivery processes, especially in response to natural disasters, conflicts, and other emergencies.
The KAA Board Chairman reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to supporting humanitarian initiatives and welcomed the prospect of partnering with the UN to establish the logistics hub.
emphasized JKIA’s pivotal role as a major aviation hub on the continent that is well-equipped to facilitate the rapid movement of humanitarian cargo and personnel across the region.
The intended collaboration between the UN and KAA signifies a proactive approach towards enhancing humanitarian response capabilities in Kenya and beyond. By leveraging JKIA’s strategic location and logistical capabilities, the proposed humanitarian logistics hub holds promise for expediting relief efforts and delivering life-saving assistance to affected communities not only in the region but also in the global south.
Some of the key benefits of this collaboration will include the injection of foreign exchange into the economy, employment and business opportunities, improved infrastructure, increased business for the hospitality industry, positioning of Kenya as a major multilateral hub and global capital.
