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Transcript/ScriptFOR USAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Kenya Flowers Russia (TV)
HEADLINE: Sanctions Have Halted Millions of Dollars in Kenyan Trade to Russia
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 03/23/2022 at 2:40PM
BYLINE: Victoria Amunga
DATELINE: Nairobi
VIDEOGRAPHER: Amos Wangwa
VIDEO EDITOR: Amos Wangwa
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: BR, Bowman
VIDEO SOURCE (S): All VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 2:20
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:
((INTRO))
[[Kenya's tea and flower exporters say international sanctions to punish Russia for invading Ukraine have halted millions of dollars of Kenyan trade with Russian importers. While they hope for peace, Kenyan traders are looking for alternatives to ship their products but face numerous obstacles as the fighting in Ukraine continues. Meantime, tons of flowers destined for Russia are withering, as Victoria Amunga reports from Kajiado, Kenya.]]
((NARRATOR))
At Isinya Roses Flower farm in Kajiado, Kenya, hundreds of workers are packaging freshly picked roses. Ordinarily, at least 40,000 stems of the fragrant flowers would be destined for the Russian market on this day.
Instead, they are in danger of withering to death. Exporters say their orders for Russia and neighboring countries have been cancelled while earlier shipments are going unpaid.
((Ananth Kumar, Isinya Roses Marketing Chief)) ((English 26 secs))
"Currently with the issue going on with Russia and Ukraine and all the sanctions on Russia we are not able to supply any flowers to Russia because of the payment systems, which even the banks have stopped by the Swift system, which has really affected us. Not only Russia, even the neighboring countries of Russia which we also supply through Russia, have been affected."
((NARRATOR))
Kenya is also a major exporter of tea to Russia, accounting for an estimated $60 million annually. Tea exporters say the unprecedented sanctions on Moscow have forced them to suspend trade indefinitely.
((Edward Mudibo, East Africa Tea Trade Association)) ((English 22 secs))
"The exporter to Russia stopped buying tea from the auction and for two reasons: the first one being that there is no way they would have opportunities to ship teas to Russia because many of the shipping lines had already notified, they would not go through those routes to Russia."
((NARRATOR))
Authorities in Kenya's fresh produce consortium told VOA that they are exploring alternatives to deliver cargo to both Russia and Ukraine – but face numerous obstacles.
((Okisegere Ojepat, Kenya Fresh Produce Consortium CEO)) (( English 24 secs))
"I have received calls from Ukraine, some businesspeople saying ‘please send us cargo,’ and we are saying ‘yes, ok fine, but to where and by what vessel? Some are saying we are willing to pay upfront. The question is, you receive somebody's money today, you don't know if they'll be alive tomorrow."
((NARRATOR))
Some exporters are looking at alternative markets such as Oman, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to get their tea and flowers off the farms - even though they risk earning less money.
((Victoria Amunga, for VOA News, Kajiado Kenya))
NewsML Media TopicsConflict, War and Peace, Human Interest
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMarch 23, 2022 14:46 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
