horticulture trade Stories

Kenya's flower exports to hit Sh110 billion in 2025 amid growing demand
XINHUA  |  Jun 05, 2025

According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the flower sector is one of the country's leading sources of foreign exchange earnings, alongsid...

Youth dive into fish farming as aquaculture initiative transforms Coast, western Kenya
Farhiya Hussein  |  Jun 02, 2025

The programme aims to create at least 150,000 jobs across these regions through training, mentorship, and access to aquaculture markets.

Government releases 200,000 bags of subsidised maize to millers to stabilise flour prices
Lucy Mumbi  |  May 26, 2025

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Senator Mutahi Kagwe said the consignment will be sold at a subsidised rate of Sh4,250 per 90-kilogramme bag and distrib...

Boost for farmers as sugarcane prices raised to Sh5,500 per tonne
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 23, 2025

Ronoh directed all millers to pay farmers without delay, stressing the importance of honouring the new price to protect the livelihoods of farmers in...

Shakahola trial: Children's officer recounts discovery of tortured, emaciated minors
Farhiya Hussein  |  May 22, 2025

Muteti told Principal Magistrate Hon Nelly Chepchirchir that between February and March 2023, Shakahola residents called their office to rescue emacia...

Gender ministry faces Sh4.3bn shortfall amid rush to deliver Ruto's cultural agenda
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 21, 2025

Appearing before the National Assembly’s Sports and Culture Committee, Gender Cabinet Secretary Hanna Cheptumo said the ministry needs Sh3.05 billion...

Shakahola massacre: Court hears chilling testimonies of alleged torture as Mackenzie, associates face child abuse charges
Farhiya Hussein  |  May 21, 2025

Helen Mwikali Kimwele, who manages the Mayungu Children’s Centre in Malindi, recalled receiving 43 children in 2017 who had been rescued from GNI-affi...

Kagwe calls for overhaul of agriculture funding, criticises three per cent budget allocation
Rachael Mutabasi  |  May 21, 2025

Kagwe pledged to work with the National Treasury, Parliament, and other policymakers to raise the sector’s budget allocation to 10 per cent.

Kipini residents urge government to preserve historic DC’s office as tourist heritage site
Farhiya Hussein  |  May 18, 2025

Led by community leaders Jibril Gudo and Said Omar, the locals noted Kipini had suffered after the administrative headquarters were moved to Hola in T...

Garissa hosts its first cultural festival, celebrating diversity and unity
Issa Hussein  |  May 17, 2025

The event, themed “Celebrating Timeless Traditions Woven in Unity”, highlighted the artistic, historical, and social aspects of various cultures, fost...

Governors support state’s Sh12.29 billion lease deal to revive four sugar factories
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 16, 2025

West Kenya Sugar Company will invest Sh5.7 billion in Nzoia Sugar, Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries will put in Sh4.5 billion for Chemelil Sugar, Wes...

Livestock ministry warns budget underfunding risks delaying crucial projects
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 16, 2025

Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke revealed that the department’s approved budget stands at Sh9.9 billion, split between Sh5.07 billion for recurrent...

Farmers, activists demand full disclosure on pesticides ban amid health and legal fears
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 16, 2025

The demand is being led by the Route to Food Initiative and supported by other groups such as the Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya, Ken...

Senators summon CS Kagwe over leasing of state-owned sugar mills, demand full lease agreements
Lucy Mumbi  |  May 15, 2025

The move that has sparked outrage among legislators and farmers in sugarcane-growing regions.

Linturi quits UDA, says he won’t be part of a party that embraces corruption, murder
Lucy Mumbi  |  May 15, 2025

Linturi accused the ruling party of straying from its founding ideals and engaging in abductions, corruption, excessive taxation and murder.

CS Kagwe calls for removal of value-added tax on key farm inputs to boost sector competitiveness
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 14, 2025

Kagwe specifically proposed that VAT on agricultural machinery and packaging materials used in agro-processing be zero-rated to promote value addition...

President Ruto, CS Kagwe sack directors of Chemelil, Nzoia and Sony sugar companies after leasing deal
Lucy Mumbi  |  May 12, 2025

President Ruto, in a gazette notice dated May 12, 2025, revoked the appointments of the board chairpersons at the three sugar companies. Eng John Nyam...

Kenya to open coffee auctions to global buyers to boost farmers' earnings, Kagwe says
Bashir Mbuthia  |  May 11, 2025

According to Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe, Kenya's improved digital infrastructure now allows international buyers to participate in the coffee auction...

Somalia’s exports are threatened by climate change and conflict: What 30 years of data tell us
The Conversation  |  May 10, 2025

We found that erratic rainfall, rising temperatures and conflict have significantly constrained Somalia’s agricultural and livestock export performanc...

Government leases four state-owned sugar mills to private firms for 30 years
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 09, 2025

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Friday said the lease deal covers Nzoia, Chemelil, Sony, and Muhoroni sugar co...

SokoLamu: County launches first online marketplace to boost local trade
Farhiya Hussein  |  May 04, 2025

Vendors were introduced to key features such as system login, dashboard navigation and vendor workflow management.

How religious extremism in Kenya reflects delayed reforms and weak law enforcement
Mary Wambui  |  Apr 26, 2025

The Musyimi taskforce recommended the formulation of a policy framework to deal with religious extremism, sects and cults to ensure transparent and re...

Desert locust outbreaks persist across North Africa, FAO warns of ongoing threat
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Apr 26, 2025

The FAO emphasises the need for continued surveys and control measures to prevent further development of the outbreaks.

Tanzania lifts Ban on Malawi, South Africa agricultural imports after diplomatic truce
Mwangi Maina  |  Apr 26, 2025

This latest move marks a de-escalation of tensions after what had initially appeared to be a brewing trade row among the SADC partners.

Matatu industry players calls for urgent government reforms to end lawlessness on roads
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Apr 25, 2025

The Federation of Public Transport Sector, which brings together all associations within the industry, has blamed the lack of a national transport mas...

Tanzania hits back at Malawi, South Africa with trade ban on agricultural products
Amina Wako  |  Apr 24, 2025

The trade measures include a complete ban on both the export and import of agricultural commodities between Tanzania and the two countries. In Malawi’...

Garissa traders call for unified business permit to ease licensing burden
Issa Hussein  |  Apr 23, 2025

The traders, said numerous licenses were a burden to the traders and were a major obstacle to economic growth.

Authority grants import levy exemption for nuts and oil crops from EAC countries
Rachael Mutabasi  |  Apr 17, 2025

According to AFA, the move aims to reduce costs for companies operating within these zones, which will no longer be required to pay import levies on n...

Shakahola massacre: Court of Appeal reinstates 191 murder charges against Paul Makenzie
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Apr 12, 2025

The judges on Friday emphasised that the 191 charges stem from the same facts and form a single transaction, making them permissible under the law.

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