Kenya’s flower industry is under intense pressure as growers are forced to discard unsold blooms, exporters absorb mounting financial losses, and thousands of livelihoods remain at risk.

The crisis has been triggered by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted vital air freight routes and significantly increased the cost of shipping flowers to international markets.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the stakeholders said the country’s floriculture sector is now under intense pressure, as the ripple effects of the conflict hit both key markets and vital logistics channels.

The region is an important market for Kenyan flowers, accounting for between 10 and 15 per cent of exports, while also serving as a key transit hub for shipments to Europe and other global destinations.

“So the last six or seven weeks have been very difficult for growers and exporters of cut flowers and ornamentals from Kenya,” Kenya Flower Council CEO Clement Tulezi said.

Air cargo capacity on some routes has dropped by as much as 30 per cent, while globally, nearly a fifth of capacity has been taken offline.

This has pushed freight costs from about 3 dollars per kilogram to as high as 5 dollars, squeezing margins for exporters already operating on thin returns.

“So it’s almost double the number in terms of money that we were using to export,” Tulezi stated.

Long delays

As a result, farmers are dumping flowers they cannot move in time, as shipment delays stretch to as long as 48 hours.

Moreover, the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry said the ongoing Middle East crisis has forced cargo vessels and aircraft to avoid the Red Sea and Gulf corridors, resulting in longer journeys and delays, Trade Cabinet Secretary said. In a statement released on April 21, 2026,

According to the CS, the geopolitical tensions risk affecting Kenya’s exports to the Middle East, worth Ksh164.6 billion annually.

Transit times for goods have increased by between 10 and 20 days, while air cargo now faces delays of up to 48 hours. The ministry warned that the changes have disrupted delivery schedules and raised costs across export sectors.

Over the past three weeks alone, the industry has recorded losses of about 620 million dollars, with a portion linked to flowers that perished before reaching the market.

“About 20 to 25 per cent of our produce we are throwing away, right? Which is substantial, why are we throwing away, because the freight cost is too high, I cannot send to Europe?” Xflora Group MD Inder Nain said.

Industry players warn that Kenya risks losing market share to competitors.

“South Americans, who are our biggest competitors, are not affected by this. So they are able to take up the gap where we export. So there is no vacuum in the market; someone else will come in to fill. And if that market is taken away, regaining it becomes almost impossible,” Tulezi noted.

At the same time, demand is weakening in key destinations.

“And the Middle East is actually the third most important market for us. The first is Europe, the second is the UK, and the third, of course, is the Middle East,” said Tulezi.

The sector generates over Ksh110 billion in export earnings annually and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, meaning prolonged disruptions could significantly impact foreign exchange inflows and employment.

VAT funds

To cushion the sector, industry players are urging government intervention, including the urgent release of about Ksh10 billion in pending VAT refunds to ease cash flow pressures.

Exporters are also calling for expanded cargo capacity and more direct flight routes to reduce reliance on disrupted transit hubs.

“We are in business, we have to make a profit, margins are important for us to keep margins and jobs. It’s a must that these things work; if they don’t work, we will have no choice but to look at austerity measures and implement them,” Tulezi stated.

Authorities say they are working with Kenya Airways, other carriers and logistics partners to secure alternative cargo routes, while also improving efficiency at the Port of Mombasa and Lamu Port to reduce delays.