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Workers at the Maridadi flower farm in Naivasha. [File, Standard]
Kenya’s flower industry, long celebrated as one of the country’s biggest export success stories, is staring at fresh uncertainty as rising freight costs, global geopolitical tensions and increasing production expenses pile pressure on growers and exporters.
The sector, which has over the years positioned Kenya as Africa’s leading flower exporter, is now warning of possible job losses, shrinking export volumes and closure of small and medium-sized farms if urgent interventions are not implemented. According to the Kenya Flower Council (KFC), the industry is currently operating under one of the toughest business environments witnessed since the Covid-19 pandemic.
The flower sector generated about $845 million (Sh110 billion) in export earnings in 2025, contributing approximately 1.5 per cent directly to Kenya’s GDP.
