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Red roses vanish as prices quadruple, leaving lovers frustrated
Ever-red roses on display at an exhibition in Nairobi. Prices of red roses have climbed steeply in the run-up to February 14, on high export market demand, leaving fewer flowers for local buyers.
A bouquet of 10 red roses that cost about Sh500 last year now sells for Sh2,000, a price increase that has made even simple Valentine’s gestures unaffordable for many Kenyans.
Prices have climbed steeply in the run-up to February 14, traders say, as high demand and export markets take up most of Kenya’s high-quality roses, leaving less for local buyers.
Some florists say they have not had any roses since January.
Limited supply has pushed prices sharply higher, with a buyer hoping to make a grand Valentine’s gesture now paying Sh15,000 for a 100-stem bouquet.
“The prices have really gone up. The suppliers just told us roses are not available, no explanations,” says Zippora Wachira, a florist, adding, “The very few stems we’re getting are so pricey, we are forced to pass the cost to customers.”
So, where have all the roses gone?
Clement Tulezi, the CEO of the Kenya Flower Council, says the shortage in local markets is not due to low production, but rather to exceptionally high demand in international markets.
“The demand was extremely high. All export-quality roses were taken up. Growers sold almost everything,” he said, adding, “even I faced a difficulty in sourcing red roses for a school event, I had to mix them with other flower varieties.”
Mr Tulezi adds that Valentine’s is not a day, it is a period. The export window runs from January 15 to February 10, a period of three weeks during which flower shipments increase significantly.
“While celebrations happen on February 14, most exports are completed in the weeks leading up to it,” he said.
On a normal day, Mr Tulezi said Kenya exports approximately 60 million stems of flowers. However, during the Valentine’s season, exports rise by about 35 percent, pushing daily shipments to over 90 million stems.
Other alternatives
It is not just red roses that are costly and in short supply.
Ms Wachira says pink, white, and yellow roses have also become expensive, as the supply crunch affects roses of every variety.
At John Mwangi’s stall, a few white rose stems sit in a small bucket, while buyers repeatedly ask for red.
“I’ve had over 10 red roses booking enquiries since last week,” he said. “Everyone wants red roses. I show them the white ones, but they say no. They want red specifically for Valentine’s.”
Mr Mwangi says he normally sells a bouquet of 10 red roses for between Sh800 and Sh1,000. Now, when he can get them, the same size of bouquet costs up to Sh2,500.
“The suppliers are charging us double what they used to,” he said. “So we have to charge customers more, too. But at these prices, most people who want to buy can’t afford it.”
A spot check by BDLife on Friday found that several florists had run out of roses and were offering different flowers for sale or watching customers leave.
“I’ve had to steer buyers toward mixed flowers with carnations and baby’s breath, or chrysanthemums, which are slightly cheaper and still available. Some buyers agree to take the alternatives,” Mr Mwangi said. “But most still want roses. They come back the next day asking if I have any red roses yet.”
Flower vendors attend to customers at City Market in Nairobi on February 13, 2026, as shoppers flock to buy flowers ahead of Valentine’s Day celebrations.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
Frustrated customer
For Nairobi shoppers like Brian Kamau, the rose shortage has turned Valentine’s Day into a test of patience. The 31-year-old has visited five flower shops in search of roses for his fiancée, Sarah Njeri, hoping to mark their first Valentine’s.
“I wanted to do something special, you know? Get her a beautiful bouquet of red roses, book a nice dinner, the whole thing,” Mr Kamau said, looking frustrated outside a flower shop at City Market.
“I’ve been to five shops today. Five! And either they don’t have roses at all, or they’re asking for crazy prices. One shop quoted Sh3,500 for about 15 roses. They didn’t even look that fresh. I may have to buy mixed flowers with carnations and lilies.”
Kenya is one of the world’s biggest rose exporters, selling flowers mainly to the Netherlands, the UK, Japan, the Middle East and Germany. Suppliers say export orders come first, leaving local florists unsure of daily availability and often reliant on leftover stock or export rejects for the domestic market.
Export-grade roses, classified as Grade 1, undergo meticulous quality checks, including stem length and strength, uniform flower head size, perfect colour and petals, and have no defects.
“Most of what you find in the local market is actually what didn’t make the export grade,” says a flower grower who requested anonymity. “Maybe the stem is a bit shorter, the colour isn’t uniform enough, or there’s a tiny blemish on a petal. These flowers are still beautiful and fresh, but they don't meet the zero-tolerance standards of international buyers.”
During peak export seasons like Valentine’s Day, even the rejects become scarce. When international demand surges, flower farms maximise their Grade 1 production to capture premium export prices.
