The soft scent of roses and lilies filled the air as Nairobi welcomed hundreds of guests to the International Floriculture Trade Expo (IFTEX) 2025.
Inside the packed exhibition hall, petals weren’t the only things on display—Kenya’s ambition, resilience, and pride were too.
Standing before a crowd of international buyers, farmers, investors, and government officials, Cabinet Secretary for Trade and Agriculture, Senator Mutahi Kagwe, took to the podium with a clear message: Kenya’s floriculture industry is not just surviving—it’s thriving.
“Kenya’s flowers have conquered global markets, but our mission now is to sustain and strengthen that lead,” Kagwe declared, his voice steady with conviction.
With Kenya now ranked as the third-largest exporter of cut flowers globally, the stakes are high. But Kagwe was quick to celebrate the journey that got the country here.
The sector, he shared, now brings in Ksh 120 billion annually, while offering direct employment to over 200,000 Kenyans, most of them from rural areas.
Still, Kagwe wasn’t here just to celebrate. He came with a vision—and a strategy.
From embracing climate-smart agriculture to strengthening farmer cooperatives, the CS outlined a bold future. He spoke of modernizing agricultural training institutions, equipping a new generation of floriculture experts.
And, perhaps most significantly, he pointed to Kenya’s new trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates, a deal that could open up fresh markets and higher-value returns for flower exporters.
“We cannot talk about rural development without talking about floriculture,” Kagwe said.
“This sector has the power to lift families, empower women, and position Kenya as a global agricultural leader.”
As he officially declared the Expo open, applause filled the hall. It wasn’t just a formal gesture—it was a nod to the thousands of farmers, packers, and logistics workers who ensure Kenya’s blooms reach vases in Amsterdam, Dubai, and London every single day.
Around him, more than 500 international buyers wandered through the exhibition booths, exploring new flower varieties, innovative packaging solutions, and next-gen cold chain technology.
Deals were being discussed, new partnerships were forming—and the energy in the room was unmistakably optimistic.
Outside, along the flower-lined paths of the expo grounds, small-scale growers from Naivasha and Meru shared stories of how one greenhouse changed a village.
