Pioneers are a rare find, and when you come across one as a writer, you seize the moment. That’s exactly what happened at IFTEX 2025 when I met this incredible guy. He’s not just a pioneer in Kenya’s cut flower industry but also in landscaping. After years of growing flowers in Kenya, he took his expertise to Tanzania and Ethiopia, and now he’s back in Kenya.
“I’m a flower boy,” he told me when we met two weeks ago at a breeding facility in Naivasha. He started working with flowers at the age of 16. I was taken aback during our interview, but what followed was even more astonishing. “Yes, I managed it alongside my evening classes. This has been my life ever since,” said the finance and business administration graduate. Amidst staff interruptions, field walks, and paperwork, he guided me through one of the most fascinating interviews I’ve ever had with a grower. He frequently called in departmental heads to elaborate on his points.
He emphasized that volume and consistency are the driving forces of the sector, which reminded me of Christine Chesaro’s remarks at an industry meeting. It was as if he had been there, highlighting that current production costs are too high due to numerous market demands. But don’t lose hope; Kenya still maintains the highest standards for sustainability in flowers and ornamentals, he concluded.
He then transitioned from market discussions to production, stressing that growers need to pursue Science-Driven Solutions because we can’t afford to fall behind adding the worst-case scenario is investing everything you have, only to have small mistakes in post-harvest handling ruin your cut flowers.
Is he reading my mind? I wondered, as this was exactly what I was thinking about for my next Floriweek. But then again, great minds think alike. Before he delved into the importance of Uganda’s direct flights to the UK and the positivity required for the industry to thrive, I excused myself, knowing he could have shared everything in my 31st Floriweek. But one thing was clear: he had no idea that Danziger’s award-winning genetics had already made a significant impact on the industry.
I will be going back for more and promise to share with you.