Kenya Sends 300 Bouquets of Flowers to the UK in Solidarity Amid Covid-19

Kenya has sent 300 bouquets of flowers to the United Kingdom as a way of showing solidarity with them amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

A Kenya Airways flight carrying the consignment left the country on Friday night and arrived in London on Saturday, April 25th. The UK is one of Kenya's largest floriculture market.

The flowers were received in London by Flamingo Limited UK and will be distributed Covid-19 frontline workers including doctors, nurses as well as recovering patients in a campaign dubbed ‘Flowers for Hope.’

The initiative was launched by a committee constituted by President Kenyatta and chaired by Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i.

It brings together the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Kenya Airways, and the Kenya Flower Council. 

“Our member, the Kenya Flower Council, has done this to show empathy and this sends a strong message of partnership at a time when many countries are facing difficulty. It is part of our campaign dubbed ‘Flowers of Hope’ informed by the realities brought forth by how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting world economies,” said KEPSA CEO Carol Karuga.

The committee requested Uhuru write a goodwill message on the flower sleeves. 

The message reads: “There have been a few moments in history when the world has faced a crisis as far-reaching and consequential as this. It is exactly at moments such as this that we must display our humanity, perseverance, and hope. Whatever the adversity, no matter the foe, we shall triumph together. We stand united. Tuko Pamoja. From Kenya with love – H E Uhuru Kenyatta.”

Bimal Kantaria the Managing Director of Elgon Kenya said: “Now more than ever we should remain united and resilient. Flowers are therapeutic, and are a great way of expressing our appreciation to the gallant men and women working round the clock to take care of the sick.”

He added: “With this campaign, we want to send a message of hope and solidarity to Kenya and the global community even as we work to ensure our brothers and sisters in the flower industry do not lose their jobs during these trying times and our highly acclaimed flower sector remains afloat.” 

Elgon Kenya has donated flower sleeves used in the campaign. Doctors, nurses, and the sick at Kenyatta National Hospital, Mbagathi, Pumwani Maternity, Mama Lucy Hospital, and Spinal Injury Hospital have already received thousands of roses under the Flowers for Hope initiative.