On March 10, a head-turning triptych mural was painted along Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi. The paintings contained artworks depicting the Kenyan and Ukrainian flags side by side standing out boldly.

This is the work of the ‘The Wall Project’ which consists of a collection of artists drawn from several countries including the two represented in the art.

“The Wall symbolises resistance, stability, and armor that fences off Europe from the war,” read a statement from the Port website, a Ukrainian art agency.

Ukraine's Ambassador to Kenya, Andriy Pravednyk FILE

The Wall has projects in Vienna, Austria, Marseille in France, Berlin in Germany, and now Nairobi, Kenya.

A triptych is a picture or art piece on three panels and was a common format for altar paintings in the middle ages. Typically, the panels are hinged together vertically. 

However, this is a triptych mural, which are three paintings covering the walls of three multi-storey buildings standing side by side.

One of the murals showsf an African hand representing Kenyan people  shaking that of a Caucasian representing Ukrainian people.

On the right side, it has a spear from the coat of arms of Kenya and on the left side, a trident from the coat of arms of Ukraine.

The joint project of Kenyan and Ukrainian artists uses such symbols to show the friendly relationship between Kenyans and Ukrainians.

The Wall presents art as a protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine which kicked off on February 24, 2022.

Kenya has a long history of trade with Ukraine. For instance, in November 2022, Kenya received 53,000 tonnes of wheat from Ukraine. 

This is the second large mural in Kenya in recent months. In January 2023, a mural of marathon great Eliud Kipchoge was unveiled in Eldoret.

Kenyan and Ukrainian artists paint a mural in Nairobi on March 10, 2023. TWITTER VIKTART MWANGI  -By Steve Thuku, Kenyans.co.ke