Armed gangs target €200m blooming flower sector

KENYA’S $200 million (€135.5m) flower industry is under threat with armed gangs targeting growers as running street battles continue.

Today marks a month since President Mwai Kibaki was controversially sworn back into office with promises of increased prosperity for Kenyans.

However, the Kenya Flower Council has warned if the chaos continues in Naivasha, which supplies 74% of Kenya’s rose exports, the impact will be detrimental particularly as St Valentine’s approaches, the industry’s peak month.

With growers’ lives in danger and mobs directing violence against flower exports, one of Kenya’s top sources of incomes could be crippled.

A convoy of armed soldiers yesterday escorted truck loads of flowers from Kenya’s largest growing area, Naivasha, along roads to Nairobi, before boxed and cut varieties were loaded on planes for the European markets.

The fleet of flower lorries included trucks from Oserian, one of the largest farms in Naivasha, which employs thousands of Kenyans.

The armed escort came after mobs set up road blocks with burning tyres and wood in protest at the employment in farms of members of the Luo tribe — supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga. Trucks of flowers were unable to pass the blockades until late afternoon.

More than 80,000 tonnes of flowers leave Kenya annually, mainly destined for Europe. Hundreds of tonnes of flowers from Kenya have been exported into Ireland in recent years, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Varieties are flown to Amsterdam, auctioned and shipped across to Dublin before being distributed to sellers, including the city- centre market beside Smithfield.

Naivasha is Kenya’s biggest producer of flowers, employing over 40,000 people around its lake. Their income in turn is estimated to support at least another 250,000 people including families.

Last night leading farm owners met government officials and police, and said if Luo workers were forced to leave town because of threats and attacks by Kikuyus — the tribe of President Kibaki — farms could close.

Nini farm, with more than 500 workers, yesterday said only 58 people had turned up for work since the weekend after dozens were killed in tribal clashes.

Farmers and growers around the lake have already begun taking in fleeing villagers.

Farm trucks arrived transporting up to 1,000 fleeing villagers to the grounds of a local prison where armed police stood guard last night.

Naivasha farm owners today intend setting up a refugee camp for up to 8,000 flower industry workers and locals.