The government of Kenya has allowed flower farmers from Naivasha and Eldoret to airlift their flowers from their farms to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for export.
Transport official Dr Gerishon Ikiara said the Kenya Flower Council had requested the government to allow exporters to use helicopters to collect the produce from their farms. Most farms in the North Rift and Naivasha cannot transport flowers due to insecurity posed by marauding gangs that have barricaded roads. Some workers also cannot reach the farms leading to labour shortages.
Ikiara said flower exports, like most goods to the regional market in the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (Comesa) have been adversely affected by the transport crisis. "The situation has not changed yet. Flowers are drying in the farms. Trucks cannot access the farms, as most drivers are afraid of attacks by the youths," he said.
Ikiara said flowers worth millions of shillings have been destroyed on the farms since post-election violence broke out in late December. "Drivers have not reported to work because they fear being attacked. Many employees have also deserted their jobs for fear of attack," he said.
He said agricultural produce like coffee, tea and milk are affected too as farms are not accessible.
Kenya is the leading exporter of cut flowers to Europe, accounting for about 25 per cent of stems sold there.
Exporters in the multi-billion shilling sub-sector are concerned they may be unable to meet the high demand occasioned by the forthcoming Saint Valentines day this month.
