5,000 lose jobs as flight ban hits Kenyan flower industry

Five thousand workers in Kenya’s horticulture industry have been temporarily laid off following $12m (€8.9m) in losses due to the cancellation of flights to Europe because of the volcanic ash cloud, an official said today.

Stephen Mbithi, the chief executive of the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya, said farmers have been forced to throw away millions of export quality flowers because storage facilities at Kenya’s main airport are filled to capacity.