Beekeeping in Kenya: A Sweet Venture for Sustainable Livelihoods

Beekeeping, also known as apiculture, is one of the oldest agricultural practices in Kenya. Traditionally, honey was collected from wild bees in forests. Today, the practice has evolved into a thriving agribusiness that supports thousands of rural households while contributing to food security, biodiversity, and environmental conservation.

🌍 The State of Beekeeping in Kenya

A 2007 study in northern Kenya showed that honey production in the country is steadily expanding. However, the industry still faces challenges such as fragmented data, limited processing facilities, and inconsistent marketing structures.
Current estimates place Kenya’s annual honey production at about 700 metric tonnes, though experts believe the potential is much higher, especially in arid and semi-arid regions (ASALs) where conditions favor beekeeping.

With the introduction of modern hives such as the Kenya Top Bar Hive (KTBH) and Langstroth Hive, farmers can now produce higher-quality honey and beeswax, and do so more sustainably.

🍯 Why Keep Bees?

Beekeeping in Kenya offers a range of benefits, both economic and ecological:

1. Production of Honey and Beeswax

Honey is a versatile product:

• A natural energy source and sweetener for foods and drinks.

• Used in traditional medicine for wound healing and cough treatment.

• Beeswax, another bee product, is used in making candles, creams, and polishes.

2. Source of Income

Both honey and beeswax can be sold locally or exported. Beekeeping requires low capital investment and minimal land, making it ideal for smallholder farmers.

3. Environmental Benefits

Bees are excellent pollinators, improving crop yields and maintaining biodiversity. This makes beekeeping an important part of climate-smart agriculture.

🐝 The Bees of Kenya

Kenya is home to two main bee species:

🟡 African Honey Bee (Apis mellifera scutellata)

• Highly adapted to local climates.

• Strong flyers, disease-resistant, and effective foragers.

• More defensive (sometimes aggressive) but very productive.

⚪ European Honey Bee

• Gentler and larger in size.

• More vulnerable to diseases.

• Less suited to Kenya’s tropical environment, but used in some managed colonies.

👑 Inside the Hive: The Bee Colony

A bee colony is a highly organized community with three main types of bees:

1. The Queen

• The mother of the colony lays up to 2,000 eggs per day.

• Emits pheromones that maintain colony unity.

2. The Drones

• Male bees whose main role is to mate with the queen.

• After mating, they die, a true act of service!

3. The Worker Bees

• Female bees handle all other tasks: feeding, cleaning, protecting, and making honey and wax.

• A single colony can have up to 60,000 worker bees.

🌸 Setting Up an Apiary

An apiary is the area where beehives are placed. To ensure successful beekeeping:

1. Ensure water availability within 3 km.

2. Choose a site rich in flowering plants.

3. Shelter hives from strong wind and direct sun.

4. Keep the area quiet and away from livestock and people.

5. Maintain cleanliness to discourage pests and diseases.

🪵 Types of Beehives in Kenya

1. Log Hive – Traditional and low-cost, but difficult to harvest from.

2. Box Hive – Improved design but still basic.

3. Kenya Top Bar Hive (KTBH) – Affordable, easy to inspect, and produces high-quality honey.

4. Langstroth Hive – Used in commercial beekeeping; efficient for large-scale operations.

✅ Advantages of the Kenya Top Bar Hive

• Easy to construct and maintain.

• Honey is harvested without disturbing the brood.

• Yields more wax and high-quality honey.

• It can be fitted with a queen excluder to separate brood from honeycombs.

🐝 Stocking and Managing Hives

There are three common ways to attract or introduce bees into hives:

1. Using a Swarm Net – To capture wild swarms and transfer them into hives.

2. Using a Catcher Box – A small movable hive used to attract swarms.

3. Baiting – Placing beeswax or old combs in an empty hive to lure colonies.

Once stocked, bees collect nectar, pollen, propolis, and water, all of which are essential for hive health and honey production.

🧑🏾‍🌾 Feeding and Caring for Bees

During dry seasons, when flowers are scarce, bees can be fed with sugar syrup (1:1 water ratio). Proper feeding ensures:

• Colony stability.

• Regular breeding by the queen.

• Reduced tendency to swarm or migrate.

🦠 Pests and Diseases

Common bee enemies include:

• Wax moths, bee lice, and honey badgers.

• Diseases such as American foulbrood and Acarine disease (though rare in African bees).

Good hygiene, hive inspection, and proper siting prevent most infestations.

🍯 Harvesting and Processing Honey

Honey is best harvested early morning or late evening when bees are calm.
Farmers use smokers, hive tools, and protective gear for safe harvesting.

Honey Extraction Methods:

1. Melting with Heat – Simple, but may reduce quality.

2. Crushing and Straining – Produces the highest-quality natural honey.

3. Centrifugal Extraction – Ideal for large-scale operations.

Beeswax Processing

Melted and filtered beeswax can be used in:

• Cosmetics and candles.

• Pharmaceuticals and dental work.

• Polishes and craft products.

💰 The Market for Honey and Beeswax

Kenyan honey and beeswax are sold:

• Locally, in markets and supermarkets.

• Internationally, where demand for natural, organic honey continues to grow.

To enhance market competitiveness:

• Quality assurance and proper packaging are key.

• Traders can blend honey of similar viscosity and color for consistency.

• Bulk packaging in plastic jerry cans reduces costs for local sales.

🌱 The Future of Beekeeping in Kenya

With increased adoption of modern beekeeping technologies, training, and cooperative marketing, Kenya has the potential to become a leading honey producer in Africa.
Beekeeping not only provides a sustainable income but also supports pollination, biodiversity, and environmental resilience, a true win-win for people and planet.

In summary, beekeeping in Kenya is more than just honey production; it’s a growing industry rooted in tradition, driven by innovation, and buzzing with opportunity.