From farms to flight:How JKIA’s Expansion is Powering Kenya’s Horticulture Exports
It starts quietly before sunrise.
In Naivasha, Thika, or Timau, a farmer clips the day’s first bloom. White roses, pink roses ,very beautiful flowers,delicate herbs;fresh, fragrant, and destined for Dubai, Amsterdam, or Tel Aviv.
But getting that flower from a farm to the world? That’s a journey filled with risk, especially when you’re racing time. And for years, Kenya’s exporters knew that risk all too well: delays, spoilage, lost markets.
Today, that story is changing.
The Quiet Revolution at Kenya’s Most Important Airport
JKIA has undergone a strategic transformation one that’s rewriting the narrative for Kenya’s flower and fresh produce exporters. Behind the scenes, facilities are evolving to support not just passenger traffic but a thriving horticulture export industry valued at KSh 157 billion annually.
Here’s what’s changed:
• A modern perishable cargo terminal has increased JKIA’s handling capacity by over 10%, making Kenya more competitive globally.
• State-of-the-art cold storage and vacuum cooling units have reduced flower and vegetable spoilage dramatically ensuring longer vase life and fresher deliveries.
• A hot water treatment facility, in partnership with KEPHIS, now makes it possible to meet strict EU regulations for fruits like mangoes and avocados.
• New direct cargo routes, including to Tel Aviv and European markets, are opening faster paths to global buyers.
It’s not just infrastructure. It’s insurance for every exporter who once feared watching their hard work wilt before landing.
Why This Expansion Means More Than Cargo
Ask anyone in the sector, and they’ll tell you: Speed is currency. Freshness is power. Reliability is everything.
One exporter we spoke to recalled a time when 30% of her flowers would arrive damaged due to delayed clearance and poor cold-chain systems. “Now,” she smiles, “they arrive in Milan exactly how we picked them;fresh, firm, flawless.”
With JKIA’s upgrades, Kenya is no longer scrambling to meet global standards we’re setting them.
PR and Horticulture: The Missing Link in Growth
Infrastructure alone doesn’t win markets, narrative does. We help horticulture brands, farms, and exporters tell the full story:
• The sustainability behind the blooms
• The innovation behind logistics
• The people behind the petals
We develop strategic communication plans that put Kenyan exporters at the forefront in trade magazines, global exhibitions, and digital spaces. And we do it with authenticity and ambition.
Why This Matters Now
Kenya exported over 137,000 tonnes of cut flowers in 2023, accounting for more than 50% of all air cargo through JKIA. But while the numbers are impressive, what lies ahead is even bigger.
Countries like Ethiopia are investing heavily in air freight. Logistics is becoming the new battlefield for market dominance. JKIA’s current momentum is an opportunity Kenya can’t afford to waste.
And neither can your business.
We believe every exporter deserves more than a cargo slot they deserve a spotlight. As JKIA expands capacity, we expand visibility. For every bouquet shipped, there’s a story worth telling;about resilience, growth, and excellence rooted in Kenya’s soil.
Let’s make sure the world doesn’t just receive your products.
Let’s make them remember where they came from.
Talk to Tirzah Communications today.