A bouquet for him: Kenyan men buy flowers to brighten their homes

Mwenda started buying himself flowers about three years ago, a few months after moving into his apartment. At first, it was mainly about decorating his new home after he partnered with a flower brand.

That experience became a habit.

“I thought, maybe I could actually be doing this as a regular thing for my house,” he says.

Mwenda places the flowers in different parts of his home, including the dining room, TV shelf, bedroom and kitchen.

“I think they're kind of, on a deeper level, a sign of life and having some life in your house,” he says.

He also enjoys watching the flowers change and looking after them, much like the plants he already keeps at home.

“They just make me happy during the day,” he says, adding that the flowers give him a sense of positive energy.

Mwenda is among a growing number of Kenyan men buying flowers for themselves, rather than waiting for a partner or someone else to give them a bouquet.

For years, flowers have largely been associated with romance, with men expected to buy them for women on birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. But some men are now bringing flowers into their homes simply because they like how they look and how they make their spaces feel.

Chris Maina, a florist at Maishy Flowers in Nairobi city centre, says he has noticed more men ordering flowers for themselves.

“I've noticed men who order flowers for themselves weekly. Honestly, I can say that the numbers are increasing over time,” Maina says.

Maina says his shop receives an estimated four to six orders from men each month, with male customers accounting for about 20 per cent of all orders.

“I receive an estimate of four to six orders a month,” Maina says. “The percentage of male customers is about 20 out of 100.” “The small percentage get them for themselves. There are also those who purchase flowers for their families, women or even during occasions as surprise gifts,” he says.

He says men are becoming more comfortable buying flowers for themselves and no longer see them solely as something to give women.

“Men nowadays also deserve to feel the love that women are being given,” he says.

Price, however, remains a consideration. Maina says many male customers prefer affordable varieties.

“Most of the men are usually on a budget, so they usually choose the cheap type of flowers,” he says.

Colour also influences their choices. Maina says male customers often choose blue, orange, yellow and white flowers, which he describes as more masculine colours.

Mwenda says the flowers have become part of the way he enjoys and looks after his home. After receiving bouquets himself, he also began giving flowers to partners and friends.

The reaction from people close to him has generally been positive, although he has encountered criticism online from people who question the practice or link it to masculinity. Mwenda does not take such comments seriously.

“I would say try it first. Don't knock it before you try it,” he says.

Nairobi-based digital content creator Joseph Ikoroi also buys flowers for himself. He started a few years ago, when he became more deliberate about self-care and making his home feel like his own.

What started as an occasional purchase has become a routine. He buys flowers every other week, depending on how busy he is.

Ikoroi does not set aside a fixed budget for flowers. What he spends depends on what is available and what is in season. His preferred flowers include roses, tulips, baby's breath and chrysanthemums. He likes roses for their classic look, baby's breath for its clean appearance and chrysanthemums because they tend to last longer.

He buys them from local vendors, supermarkets and small florists around Nairobi.

At home, the flowers usually go into the living room. “They immediately make the room feel more alive and welcoming,” he says.

Coming home to fresh flowers after a long day, he says, makes the space feel calmer. He also finds that they can inspire him while editing content or planning new ideas.

Ikoroi sometimes features the flowers in his social media content, including lifestyle vlogs, weekly resets, self-care routines and home-related posts.

For him, buying flowers is also a way of pushing back against the idea that men should not care about such things.

“Buying yourself flowers does not make you less of a man. It simply means you are comfortable enjoying something that brings you happiness,” he says.

At Maishy Flowers, Maina says the choice of flowers also depends on what customers want and how much they are willing to spend. Some men go for more expensive varieties.

Lilies, he says, are among the pricier flowers at the shop. Some male customers are drawn to them because of their appearance and fragrance, and because they enjoy having them around the house.

The growing interest in flowers among men is giving florists another group of customers to serve.

Maina expects more men to become comfortable buying flowers for themselves instead of seeing them as a waste of money or something meant only for women.

“Flowers have a way of bringing beauty and happiness into the home,” says the florist.

Ikoroi concurs and adds that men should not have to wait for somebody else to buy them flowers.

“Flowers represent self-care, celebration, beauty, and intentional living,” he says.

“You do not need permission from society to appreciate beauty, care for your home, or create moments of joy for yourself.”

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