The Agricultural Employers Association (AEA) Board, had a fruitful meeting with the Principal Secretary, State Department for Labour and Skills Development, Mr. Shadrack Mwadime during a courtesy call. The board and the CEO Mr. Wesley Siele appraised him on various issues touching on the agriculture sector.
Kenya remains the leading exporter of cut flowers to the EU with a 38-40% market share and the 4th largest exporter globally. The floriculture sector is a key foreign exchange earner, contributing about 1.5% to GDP and earning over Ksh 110 Billion annually in export revenue.
The sector employs over 200,000 people directly and over 2 million indirectly, impacting the livelihoods of over 4 million Kenyans, with women and youth forming the majority of the workforce.
This provided an opportunity to discuss the diverse opportunities Kenya has as an investment destination and the immense potential for employment creation for the youth. Despite the emerging business challenges around cost of production and sustainability the sector has supported employees. The emerging concerns on the middle east war and how it impacts on employment was also discussed.
We appreciate the PS's commitment to continued social dialogue and public-private collaboration to secure jobs, ensure industrial harmony, and make Kenya more competitive.
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