Kirera Mwiti

Flower farms in Naivasha have warned that they could be unable to afford salaries for their workers in the coming month as the crisis in the sector deepened due to coronavirus pandemic.

This came as the government promised flower farmers support in the wake of the viral disease that has killed thousands globally.

Already, over 2,000 workers have been sent on a two-week paid leave by respective farms due to the collapse of the Dutch auction, which takes over 50 per cent of exports from the country.

In the last one week, some flower farms have resorted to destroying flowers worth millions of shillings every day as the product cannot reach the EU market.

According to Naivasha Sub-county commissioner Mathioya Mbogo, the flower sector is very critical to the country’s economy and the national government would release support measures.

“We have had several meetings with the farmers and assured them of government support as they support hundreds of families directly and indirectly,” he said.

He noted that Naivasha was home to tens of flower farms warning that sending workers home would lead to social disorder and rise in crime in and around the town.

The proprietor Maridadi flower farm Jack Kneppers said they would be making a major decision this week.

“Early in the week we sent 150 workers home as we monitor the situation and nothing has changed meaning we could send more home,” said the farmer, who has employed 750 workers.

According to the Kenya Export, Floriculture, Horticulture and Allied Workers Union secretary general David Omulama, over 15 farms had already sent part of their workers home.