The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
The Kenya Flower Council (KFC) has reported that the recent strike by aviation workers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) left approximately 1,000 tonnes of flower cargo stranded, resulting in significant losses for growers and exporters.
The two-day industrial action disrupted the transportation of flowers and other perishable goods, while additional consignments remained at farms and packhouses after the usual export process was brought to a standstill.
KFC warned that clearing the accumulated cargo would take several days because flowers are highly perishable and must be harvested, packed and transported within strict timelines.
“Clearing this backlog will take several days. Flowers are not conventional cargo that can simply wait for the next available aircraft. They are highly perishable, time-sensitive products harvested, graded, packed and transported against specific flight schedules, auction windows, retailer programmes and customer delivery dates. Every additional hour matters,” the council said.
According to KFC, delays can shorten the vase and shelf life of flowers, affect their quality, result in missed connecting flights and increase cold-chain and handling expenses. The disruption may also lead to cancelled orders and lost income for businesses across the supply chain.
The council further noted that some orders disrupted during the two-day strike would not be recovered. This comes as growers and exporters continue to contend with high airfreight costs, increasing production and compliance expenses, as well as stiff competition in global markets.
Aviation workers affiliated with the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) called off their two-day strike on Tuesday after the industrial action disrupted flight operations at JKIA and Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
The strike occurred at a crucial period for Kenya’s flower industry, which is a significant contributor to the country’s export earnings.
Official data indicates that Kenya exported approximately 130,600 tonnes of cut flowers valued at Sh81.3 billion in 2025. Flower export volumes grew by 27.4 percent during the year, while earnings increased by 12.8 percent compared with 2024.
Kenya’s total fresh horticultural exports stood at about 457,900 tonnes, valued at Sh143.8 billion, with flowers contributing roughly 62 percent of the total value of horticultural exports in 2025.
KFC emphasised that the flower industry is far too important to Kenya’s economy for disruptions to its supply chain to occur without serious consequences.
“This is therefore not a peripheral industry whose supply chain can be switched on and off without consequences. It is one of Kenya’s important sources of export earnings, jobs and rural livelihoods,” the council said.
It added that the latest disruption had highlighted the vulnerability of the industry, warning that the gains made by the sector could quickly be put at risk when the country’s main aviation gateway experiences operational disruptions.
