Violence hits key Kenya flower growing area
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Violence in Kenya's main flower growing area has hit production as workers have fled or stayed at home ahead of the peak sales period of St Valentines Day on February 14, producers said on Tuesday.
Kenya is the leading exporter of cut flowers to Europe, providing over 25 percent of stems sold there. Horticultural exports in 2007 are estimated to have reached about 50 billion shillings (340 million pounds).
Ethnic violence by members of President Mwai Kibaki's Kikuyu group against others supporting the opposition's Raila Odinga has spread to Naivasha town, in the main producing area of cut flowers in Kenya.
About 100 people have been killed in Naivasha, an hour's drive north of Nairobi, and nearby Nakuru since last Thursday.
"It has greatly affected the industry," said Martin ole Kamwaro, corporate affairs manager at leading producer Shah Agencies. "People working in the farms but living in the town are trapped."
In Naivasha and Nakuru, Kikuyus hunted down Luos, Luhyas and Kalenjins vowing revenge for the killing of members of their community in other parts of the country.
Military helicopters on Tuesday swooped over crowds of men wielding machetes in Naivasha, firing rubber bullets as policemen tried to evacuate families from other tribes.
"People are afraid to come to work. They prefer to stay at home," said one farm official who did not want to be named. Continued...
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