KENYA FLOWER COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS EXPORT GROWTH AS EU REMAINS TOP MARKET

KFC Chief Executive Officer Clement Tulezi (left) addresses journalists during a media briefing in Nairobi, where he highlighted strong growth in Kenya’s flower exports and reaffirmed the European Union as the country’s leading market.

By: Gladys K 

The Kenya Flower Council (KFC) says Kenya’s flower export sector continues to grow strongly, with the European Union (EU) remaining the country’s biggest market, following a media briefing held in Nairobi.

KFC Chief Executive Officer Clement Tulezi said the floriculture industry remains a key pillar of the economy. “The flower sector is doing well and continues to earn the country valuable foreign exchange while supporting thousands of jobs across farms, transport and other related areas,” Tulezi said.

He noted that Europe still takes the largest share of Kenya’s flower exports, accounting for about 70 per cent of total sales. “The EU remains our main market, with countries such as the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany showing steady demand for Kenyan flowers,” he said.

Tulezi said the industry is also working to grow exports beyond Europe to secure its future. “While Europe remains important, we are seeing growing interest from markets in the Middle East, Asia and Australia, especially for special flower varieties and seasonal products,” he said.

According to KFC, Kenya earns hundreds of millions of dollars each year from flower exports, driven by strong global demand and increased production. “Expanding into new markets is important because it reduces our dependence on one region and helps protect the industry in the long term,” Tulezi said.

He acknowledged that exporters still face challenges, especially the high cost of air freight and other logistical issues. “Transport costs remain a major challenge for flower exporters and affect how competitive we are in global markets,” he said.

To address these challenges, Tulezi said the Council is working with government agencies and industry partners to improve infrastructure and meet international standards. “We are also exploring cheaper and more efficient options such as sea freight to help lower costs for exporters,” he said.

Tulezi said the floriculture industry remains one of Kenya’s top foreign exchange earners and a major employer. “The continued growth of this sector shows Kenya’s strong position as a leading flower exporter, and we are confident the industry will continue to grow with the right support,” he said.