President Uhuru Kenyatta's decision to send flowers to doctors fighting Coronavirus in the UK has ignited the wrath of Kenyan citizens.
A post by Kenya's High Commissioner to UK Manoah Esipisu highlighting the decision by the president brought to the fore pent-up frustrations from Kenyans who accused the government of ignoring the dire situation in the country and instead focusing on other nations.
"To bring cheer and express solidarity with frontline National Health Service (NHS) workers in the fight against Covid-19 in key partner UK, Kenya's private sector has delivered 200 bouquets of flowers to Great Ormond Street Hospital and hospitals in Manchester and Salford.
"In each bouquet, a message of encouragement and hope from HE President Uhuru Kenyatta: 'Whatever the adversity, no matter the foe, we shall triumph together'. This is in Kenya’s true spirit of solidary and partnership," Esipisu stated.
Kenyans were quick to accuse the government of failing to attend to the needs of Kenyan workers, especially those on the frontline in the fight against the pandemic.
"Sir, yet you awarded milking gumboots to our scientists and researchers. What have you done to our frontline medics? Charity begins at home," Nicholas 64 stated.
"You send flowers to overseas doctors and health workers, yet teargas your very own? At least sort out the personal protective equipment (PPE) issue for our health workers," Maina Karue opined.
"You send flowers to UK yet women back home are cooking stones for their children? A woman today is sleeping on a cardboard box with a month old baby all in the name of quarantine yet you are here parading this. No offence to kids in the UK but...," Mswahili Bandia added.
Esipisu, however, explained that the decision was not to serve as an affront to the Kenyan workers and the situation in the country, but as a means of safeguarding the livelihoods of others depending on the floriculture sector.
He explained that the UK was one of the largest target markets for Kenyan flower exports, and though hit by the pandemic, he remained hopeful that things would rebound.
"Kenyan flowers are a prominent feature on the shelves of major supermarkets in the UK, which remain open, ensuring a lifeline for 200,000 workers responsible for growing some 5 billion stems of flowers a year mainly for export.
"Kenya is a leading exporter of flowers to Europe, including the UK, with a market share of about 35% but the Covid-19 crisis has deeply hit the market, jeopardizing horticulture, a huge foreign exchange earner. Despite all this, we are hopeful, for better days ahead," he stated.
His sentiments were echoed by President Uhuru Kenyatta who told off those questioning the decision to send the flowers to the UK.
Addressing the nation from State House, Nairobi, on May 1, 2020, the President insisted that it was only right for the country to stand in solidarity with the UK which consumes the bulk of Kenya's flower exports.
