This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
Kenya's economy, heavily reliant on flowers, horticulture, tourism, and diaspora remittances, is set to benefit from a new strategy to boost cargo shipping. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has revealed plans to contract cargo airlines from other countries to assist in shipping flowers and horticultural products, as more European countries ease restrictions.
According to Munya, the move addresses the challenge of limited space within Kenya Airways cargo planes, which have become overwhelmed by the demand to ship the commodities. This decision is expected to draw backlash from the national carrier Kenya Airways, which had expressed concerns that Ethiopian Airlines would take a huge chunk of the business of shipping flowers, fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat to Europe.
Kenya is the lead exporter of roses to the European Union, and the industry employs some 150,000 people, indirectly supporting four million people, according to the Kenya Flower Council. The government will be keen on ensuring flowers and horticulture get to Europe, as they are a crucial part of the country's economy.
Several European countries, including Italy, France, Spain, and the Netherlands, have eased restrictions, with Italy recently reopening to travelers from Europe in a bid to revive its tourism industry. Kenya reported its first case of the coronavirus in mid-March, leading to the closure of farms and the loss of thousands of jobs for loaders at the airport.
