A nationwide transport strike on 19 May paralysed cold-chain logistics across Kenya, leaving up to 200 tonnes of cut flowers stranded and pushing daily losses toward KShs 200 million compounding an already fragile export season.
Kenya’s floriculture sector has sounded the alarm over mounting operational pressures after a nationwide transport strike on Monday halted cargo movement along key corridors to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), exposing the fragility of the country’s export logistics at one of its most vulnerable moments.
The Kenya Flower Council (KFC) warned that the action severely disrupted worker movement, cargo transport and the critical cold-chain operations on which growers and exporters depend to deliver fresh flowers to international markets within strict quality windows.
“The flower industry operates within highly time-sensitive global supply chains where efficiency and reliability are critical. Flowers are highly perishable products destined for international markets that continue operating regardless of local disruptions.”
— Clement Tulezi, CEO, Kenya Flower Council
Export delays and financial exposure
The strike sent shockwaves through growing regions as workers were unable to reach farms due to roadblocks and transport shortages. Harvesting schedules, packhouse operations and airport handling were all disrupted as cargo trucks experienced prolonged delays navigating blocked roads within Nairobi.
Preliminary industry assessments show farm attendance dropped sharply across several growing areas. Between 100 and 200 tonnes of flowers scheduled for export were delayed or affected to varying degrees, with the sector estimating direct exposure from shipment delays and wastage risks at approximately KShs 200 million for the day alone.
The disruption adds fresh pressure to an already difficult trading environment. KFC data shows the sector had already been losing close to USD 1.4 million — around KShs 180 million — every week prior to the strike, driven by freight disruptions, elevated logistics costs and the geopolitical instability affecting supply routes linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
KFC CEO Clement Tulezi cautioned that the consequences extend far beyond a single day’s losses. “Every delayed shipment increases the risk of spoilage, financial losses, contractual penalties, damaged buyer confidence and long-term market competitiveness for Kenyan growers,” he said.
A strategic industry under pressure
Kenya’s floriculture sector generates over KShs 110 billion annually and directly supports more than 200,000 jobs, with over 1.5 million livelihoods sustained indirectly across the value chain. It is one of the country’s most valuable foreign exchange earners and a cornerstone of global cut-flower supply, particularly to European markets.
The strike has reignited concerns about the resilience of Kenya’s transport and logistics infrastructure for export-oriented industries. KFC warned that prolonged instability risks undermining investor confidence, disrupting production continuity and weakening Kenya’s reputation as one of the world’s leading flower exporters.
The Council is calling for urgent, coordinated government intervention to cushion exporters and workers from escalating fuel costs, transport instability and logistics disruptions, and is urging all stakeholders to prioritise dialogue to keep essential cargo corridors open.
Eyes turn to IFTEX 2026
The disruption comes just weeks before the International Flower Trade Expo (IFTEX) 2026, scheduled for 2–4 June in Nairobi. Organised by HPP Exhibitions, the event is expected to bring together global buyers, breeders, logistics providers and industry stakeholders for one of Africa’s largest floriculture trade showcases.
This year’s edition arrives at a defining moment. Beyond showcasing Kenya’s standing in global flower markets, the expo is increasingly expected to serve as a platform for urgent conversation around supply chain resilience, freight sustainability and the long-term competitiveness of African floriculture in a volatile global environment.
KFC says it continues to engage growers, logistics providers and government agencies to minimise losses and maintain export continuity as the industry navigates one of its most challenging periods in recent years