Kenya's horticulture industry is crucial to the nation's economy, with exports accounting for a significant portion of the sector's revenue, and millions of people depend on these exports for their livelihoods.
In 2022, the industry contributed about $1.1 billion to exports. Flowers made up nearly 52 percent of exports by weight and 70 percent by value, while fruits accounted for 29 percent by weight and around 12 percent by value.
The remaining exports were vegetables.
Historically, air freight has been the dominant mode of transport for horticultural products.
However, the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the rising costs of air freight has led to a growing need to look for an alternative and more sustainable mode of transport, which lead to the wish to transition to sea freight for horticultural exports.
Besides, internationally agreed steps to mitigate climate change, this shift is fueled by changing opinions by European consumers who want to buy more sustainable produce.
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