clipped from www.dfid.gov.uk Buy a Kenyan rose this Valentine’s day International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander asks consumers to buy Kenyan flowers this Thursday International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander today encouraged romantics in the UK to buy Kenyan flowers this Valentine’s Day. Farmers and flower producers have been working extra hard to get flowers to market in time for Valentine’s Day given the unrest in the country. Kenya is the lead exporter into the European Union of cut flowers. Roses constitute more than 70% of Kenya’s flower exports and by meeting demand for roses used on 14 February and Mother’s Day (March 2) exporters earn more than the rest of the year’s sales combined. The Kenyan economy is already under great strain given the political situation and a dip in exports could make the country’s problems worse including many further job losses.