{
  "id": 5058063,
  "title": "Flower farms grapple with backlogs after aviation strike",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/flower-farms-grapple-with-backlogs-after-aviation-strike",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-02T09:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Capital Business",
    "slug": "capital-business",
    "url": "https://capitalfm.africa/flower-farms-grapple-with-backlogs-after-aviation-strike/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 2, the Kenya Flower Council (KFC) reported that a recent aviation workers' strike at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has stranded approximately 1,000 tonnes of flower cargo. This strike, which lasted for two days, disrupted not only flower shipments but also other perishable products, causing significant losses for growers and exporters. The KFC emphasized that clearing this backlog would be a lengthy process due to the highly perishable nature of flowers and their strict harvesting, grading, packing, and transportation schedules. According to the KFC, delays directly impact the vase life and shelf life of flowers, leading to compromised quality, missed connections, additional cold-chain and handling costs, cancelled orders, and ultimately, lost revenue. Some orders affected by this disruption may not be recovered, adding to the already challenging circumstances faced by growers and exporters. These challenges include high airfreight charges, rising production and compliance costs, and intense competition in international markets. The strike, called by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), ended on Tuesday after disrupting flight operations at JKIA and Moi International Airport in Mombasa. This disruption occurred at a critical time for Kenya's flower industry, which remains a significant source of export earnings. In 2025, Kenya exported about 130,600 tonnes of cut flowers worth Sh81.3 billion, representing a 27.4 percent increase in export volumes and a 12.8 percent rise in earnings compared to the previous year. Flowers accounted for about 62 percent of the value of Kenya's horticultural exports in 2025. The KFC stressed that the flower industry is not a peripheral sector whose supply chain can be easily switched on and off without consequences. It is one of Kenya's crucial sources of export earnings, jobs, and rural livelihoods. The events of the past two days highlight how quickly gains in the industry can be threatened when the country's main aviation gateway becomes unreliable.",
  "summary": "KFC said clearing the backlog would take several days, given the highly perishable nature of flowers and the tight schedules under which they are harvested, packed and transported.",
  "key_points": [
    "Kenya Flower Council reports 1,000 tonnes of flower cargo stranded due to aviation strike",
    "Strike disrupted flight operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for two days",
    "Backlog clearance poses significant challenges to Kenya's flower industry's export earnings"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}