In her 27 years, she has transformed as much as her employer did at the start. She watched the farm evolve from growing carnations to vegetables before firmly setting up its’ rose flower arm in 1998. Hers is a story of a woman whose difficulties as a working mother compelled her to stand up for her rights and advocate for a better future for women.Ĥ7-year-old Anne Abuke vividly remembers this as the day she joined Shalimar, fresh from high school, eager to start life on her own.Īt the time, the flower industry was still fairly young, with much fewer producers compared to today. This International Women’s Day 2021, we speak to Anne Abuke from Shalimar Flowers Kenya.