• This is under the Flowers of Hope initiative by the Kenya Private Alliance, which it launched on March 30 under its Economic Framework for Covid-19 response.
Kenya has delivered 200 bouquets of flowers to National Health Service workers on the frontline in the fight against Covid-19 in London, Manchester and Salford.
Kenya’s High Commissioner to the UK Manoah Esipisu on Thursday said this is “to bring cheer and express solidarity with frontline NHS workers”.
2. In each bouquet, a message of encouragement and hope from HE President Uhuru Kenyatta: "Whatever the adversity, no matter the foe, we shall triumph together." This is in Kenya’s true spirit of solidary and partnership. pic.twitter.com/X9zkLBDM6L
— Amb. Manoah Esipisu EBS (@MEsipisu) April 30, 2020
Esipisu in a statement said Kenyan flowers are a prominent feature on the shelves of major supermarkets in the UK, which remain open, ensuring a lifeline for 200,000 workers responsible for growing some five billion stems of flowers a year mainly for export.
Kenya-UK Strategic Partnership goes from strength to strength: thank you @StateHouse @MEsipisu for the beautiful flowers to cheers up UK frontline workers in the COVID-19 response. @NHS @KEPSA_KENYA @britchamken pic.twitter.com/Ez3yId6DoD
— Jane Marriott (@JaneMarriottUK) April 30, 2020
“Kenya is a leading exporter of flowers to Europe, including the UK, with a market share of about 35% but the Covid-19 crisis has deeply hit the market, jeopardizing horticulture, a huge foreign exchange earner. Despite all this, we are hopeful, for better days ahead,” he added.
UK High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott thanked Kenya for the flowers.
“Kenya-UK Strategic Partnership goes from strength to strength: thank you @StateHouse @MEsipisu for the beautiful flowers to cheers up UK frontline workers in the COVID-19 response,” she tweeted.
The consignment was flown by the national carrier Kenya Airways Friday night and received by Flamingo Limited UK.
