abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

1 Apr 2011

Author:
Felicity Lawrence, Guardian [UK]

Kenya's flower industry shows budding improvement

Flowers are one of Kenya's main sources of foreign currency earnings...but questions are also beginning to be asked about how much of that money actually stays in Kenya. The head of the Kenya Revenue Authority, John Njiraini, has announced that he is investigating the whole flower sector, including the three largest multinational exporters, because he suspects they are shifting profits to other jurisdictions and not paying their fair share of tax in Kenya. The flower business has been controversial for other reasons too. In 2003 campaigners raised the alarm about conditions for the workers on some of the flower farms and in packhouses. A Guardian investigation back then made public serious concerns about health and safety arising from chemical spraying, very long working hours and instances of harassment. So Guardian Films, with funding from Christian Aid, went back to Kenya to look into the new complaint about tax and to see if conditions had changed...[refers to Flamingo Holdings, Marks & Spencer]