The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) is on the spot following its routine annual night closure of airport runway for maintenance between March and April, the period when the horticulture exports are at its peak.
The Kenya Flower Council chief executive officer Clement Tulezi said the move affects their orders as well as compromise on the quality of the produce given that much of the shipment is done at night.
KAA normally conducts routine maintenance every year to repair some of the damaged sections of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) with the period coinciding with Valentines and Mother’s Day when the produce is in high demand.
“We would like to urge the management of the airport to consider rescheduling the time when they conduct the annual maintenance such that it does not coincide with the peak season when flowers are in high demand,” said Mr Tulezi.
His sentiments were echoed by the chief executive of Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya Hosea Machuki who said the 10pm to 5am closure of the runway has negative effects to the flower industry.