Trade Policy in the Cut Flower Industry in Kenya

Abstract

That the cut flower industry is amongst the fastest growing sectors of the Kenyan economy can be seen by its phenomenal expansion within the last two decades. With an annual growth rate of 20 per cent, it is an important source of foreign exchange. And its employment potential continues to grow. About three quarters of its workforce is female, making it one of the sectors where the feminization of labour is most explicitly manifested. More than half of the Kenyan population lives below the absolute poverty line. In this respect, the cut flower industry’s role in poverty alleviation takes on a pivotal role considering that the majority of the poor are women. The need for a horticultural trade policy that is gendered cannot be over emphasized. Horticultural trade policy in Kenya is not only large grower/exporter oriented but also the key actors involved in this process tend to be male. Yet the effective participation of the poor workers in the cut flower industry can be greatly enhanced by worker-oriented policy measures. This paper outlines the individuals/institutions that participate in the horticultural trade policy formulation process to inform how gender inclusive it is and identify potential entry points for women’s voices to be incorporated.