Oops, love hurts: City Hall hikes flower vending charges ahead of lovers’ day

By ANJELLAH OWINO and MARGARET KANINI

Asked about their thoughts on Valentine’s Day, two men retorted, “The day is overrated and has been overly commercialised.”

And, “They have spoilt it. It is an abuse against men!”

The two responses capture the attitude of most men on the day that many women eagerly await.

And as the clock ticks towards February 14, many men must be suffering from Valentine’s Day blues.

On the contrary, a good number of women will be waiting to be gifted and offered ‘a treat to remember’. So the question is, will men and women reach a compromise tomorrow?

Flo Karanja, a 22-year-old model in Nairobi, says men should not have worries about Valentine’s Day.

“It is a normal day and should not be treated any differently. Most women take advantage of that day and demand to be showered with gifts, but if you are genuinely in love, Valentine’s Day should not cause rifts between the two of you,” she says.

More special

Dennis Simiyu, 24, is among men who believe Valentine’s Day should be any time, any day.

“It is not bad for Valentine’s Day to be celebrated. Only men who do not treat their women nicely each day worry about the day. If you have the money, make the day more special,” says Simiyu.

Grace Ngugi, who is single, says she hopes she could find someone to buy her a gift. “Valentine’s Day reminds single people like me that we need to find partners. It is kind of a wake up call.”

Accountant Arthur Okoto asks women not to push men to limits they cannot reach financially. “A coffee date would do for me. I have already told her that. What will change is that I will take her to an exquisite restaurant,” he says.

Unlike some men who dread buying flowers, Okoto says he will send one to his wife. However, the fun-loving man may not be able to find any on the streets of Nairobi.

This is because the county government declined to reduce charges flower vendors pay to erect tents on Valentine’s Day, contrary to a practice that has been going on since 2011.

Kenya Flower Council (KFC) and Flower Vendors Association of Kenya officials yesterday said they are deeply saddened by the decision.

KFC CEO Jane Ngige said the decision was made without considering that the vendors have been instrumental in branding Nairobi as the capital of the world’s best flowers.

The county government has raised fees for Valentine’s Day tents and display tables from Sh500 to Sh2,340 and Sh2,925 respectively. This adds up to Sh5,265 per day, a fee the chairman of the vendors’ association, Simon  Mwaura, said was too high.

Mwaura said in the past they have pitched tent in the city centre for three days but the few vendors who can afford the costs will mount flowers only on Friday, denying buyers the chance to get their loved ones flowers.

Yesterday, traders said they had not experienced an upsurge in their sales due to Valentine’s Day, but were hoping for last-minute buys.

“Most people are used to a last-minute rush. We expect sales to go up, particularly on Valentine’s Day,” said Martha Gitonga, a businesswoman at Graceland Designs in Nairobi’s Jamia Mall.

Andrew Ng’ang’a, a businessman dealing in women’s clothes, was also optimistic that his sales would rise.

“We have had a few customers. I think Kenyans may have realised the day is commercial, but we hope for increased business,” he said.