By Samuel Ouma
Tucked in the arid and semi-arid landscape of Kenya’s Lower Eastern region lies Kitui County, a land of contrasts—harsh droughts, resilient people, and an emerging story of hope, sweetened by honey. While many associate Kitui with water scarcity and dryland farming, a silent revolution has been taking place in its hills, valleys, and thickets—beekeeping. Also known as apiculture, this ancient practice is rapidly becoming one of the county’s strongest economic pillars. It is helping to boost rural livelihoods, improve nutrition, and support environmental conservation in a region where climate shocks often devastate traditional farming.
For generations, the people of Kitui have lived in harmony with nature. The abundant acacia trees, shrubs, and wild flora offer an ideal environment for bees to thrive. This natural advantage, when combined with traditional knowledge and the increasing adoption of modern beekeeping methods, has helped position Kitui as a key honey-producing region. In Kenya, over 80% of honey is produced in arid and semi-arid areas, and Kitui plays a major role in this. The county is home to an estimated 50,000 beekeepers, according to data from the Kenya National Beekeeping Institute, contributing significantly to Kenya’s annual production of over 25,000 metric tonnes of honey.
The benefits of beekeeping are multifaceted. Economically, it presents a low-cost, high-return venture. A single Langstroth hive can yield between 10 to 15 kilograms of honey per season, and some well-managed hives can produce up to 20 kilograms. At market prices ranging from Ksh. 700 to Ksh. 900 (USD 3.08–5.38) per kilogram, a farmer with 10 hives can earn between Ksh. 70,000 to Ksh. 150,000 (USD 462–1,154) in a season. This makes beekeeping a reliable source of income, especially during dry spells when rain-fed agriculture is unreliable. Beyond income, bees contribute to agricultural productivity through pollination, increasing yields for crops like mangoes, avocados, watermelons, and sunflowers by up to 30%, according to FAO reports.
Honey and its by-products also provide health and nutritional benefits. Honey is widely used as a natural remedy for colds, coughs, wounds, and digestive issues, while beeswax is used in cosmetics, polishes, and candle-making. Other by-products like royal jelly, propolis, and bee pollen are rich in nutrients and increasingly valued in the natural health and wellness markets. A 2022 market report by ResearchAndMarkets.com estimated the global honey market to be worth over USD 8 billion and growing, indicating a strong potential for income diversification in rural areas like Kitui.
Several factors have contributed to making Kitui a favourable environment for beekeeping. The region’s climate is hot and dry, with average temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C, ideal for honey ripening. Indigenous flora such as Acacia tortillas, Commiphora Africana, Croton megalocarpus, and Terminalia species provide a steady nectar flow throughout the year. Kitui’s expansive landscapes and low human population density also reduce human-wildlife conflict, making it easier to establish apiaries far from homesteads and crops. Unlike dairy or poultry farming, beekeeping requires minimal space and inputs, making it ideal for small-scale farmers and even the elderly or physically disabled.
Another strong advantage is the deep reservoir of traditional knowledge among Kitui residents. Historically, local communities harvested wild honey using smoke and traditional log hives. Though often destructive to colonies, this knowledge laid the foundation for more sustainable practices today. With the introduction of modern hives such as the Kenyan Top Bar Hive (KTBH) and Langstroth hives, productivity has improved significantly. These hives allow for easier inspection, harvesting, and colony management, encouraging more women and youth to participate in beekeeping.
Institutional support has also played a critical role. Organizations like the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), and the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) through support from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) through the United Church of Canada (UCC) have supported beekeeping in Kitui by offering training and starter kits. The County Government of Kitui has also incorporated beekeeping into its climate-smart agriculture programs and environmental conservation strategies. Through these collaborations, hundreds of groups have formed across sub-counties, many of them women-led or youth-led, helping to make apiculture an inclusive economic opportunity.
The economic impact is already visible. Malia John, a farmer from Athi Ward, began with three hives. Today, she owns over ten hives and earns more than Ksh.150,000 (USD 1,154) annually. She no longer depends on charcoal burning for income. Her story is echoed by many across Kitui who now use proceeds from honey sales to pay school fees, build homes, and even invest in other income-generating activities. Some community groups have diversified into value addition, producing products like honey wine, medicated soap, beeswax candles, and lip balms—giving rise to micro-enterprises that create local jobs.
Kitui’s honey is also gaining recognition nationally and internationally. Its dark amber colour and distinct floral taste make it popular among consumers who prefer organic, natural products. With proper branding, packaging, and standardization, beekeepers in Kitui could tap into export markets. The Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a timely opportunity for countries like Kitui to reach wider regional markets. Already, cooperatives are pushing for certification and training in food safety to comply with the Kenyan Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and international standards.
David Ndambuki, the Chairperson of the Mwingi Beekeeping Cooperative Society, noted the growing importance of the sector.
“Beekeeping has become more than just a tradition in Kitui—it is a business and a way of life. Our cooperative has grown from just over 100 in six years, and the demand for quality Kitui honey is rising both locally and abroad. We need more investment in training, processing and marketing to maximize this potential,” he said
Beyond honey, the by-products of beekeeping offer immense potential. Beeswax is used in making candles, furniture polish, and cosmetics; royal jelly is prized for its anti-ageing and fertility-enhancing properties; propolis is valued for its strong antibacterial qualities and is used in herbal medicine and lozenges; and bee pollen is considered a superfood-rich in amino acids, enzymes, and antioxidants. These value-added products fetch higher prices in urban and export markets. In Nairobi, for instance, 250g of raw propolis can sell for over Ksh. 1,000 (USD7.70), while beeswax-based lip balms go for up to Ksh. 300 (USD 2.30) each.
Munyoki Kimwele, a beekeeper from Mwingi, is among those who have seen remarkable transformation through beekeeping.
“I used to harvest just a few kilos from traditional hives. After training and shifting to modern Langstroth hives, I now harvest up to 20 kilograms every four months from each hive. The money has helped me pay my children’s school fees and even start a small shop,” he stated.
Beekeeping methods in Kitui range from traditional log hives to the more advanced Langstroth and KTBH systems. While log hives are cheap and culturally familiar, they offer limited yields and are harder to manage. KTBHs, made from local timber, are cost-effective and easy to use, making them popular among semi-commercial beekeepers. Langstroth hives, which use removable frames, are best suited for large-scale commercial operations due to their higher productivity and compatibility with modern honey extractors. Apiary management has also improved, with farmers trained on proper spacing, bee fencing using thorny shrubs, and strategic siting to reduce human-bee conflict.
However, challenges persist. Beekeepers face threats from pests like wax moths and varroa mites, diseases like foulbrood, and predators such as honey badgers and ants. Climate change has led to erratic flowering patterns, reducing nectar availability. Moreover, access to markets remains uneven, with some producers forced to sell at low prices to middlemen due to a lack of transport or storage. Inadequate access to modern processing and packaging facilities also limits the quality of honey, affecting competitiveness. Vandalism and hive theft are rising concerns, particularly in remote or unsecured locations.
Despite these challenges, farmers are adapting. Many are planting bee-friendly trees and drought-resistant shrubs to provide year-round forage. Others are forming cooperatives to pool resources, standardize production, and lobby for better policies. Some have invested in lockable “bee houses” to protect hives from theft and harsh weather. NGOs are also supporting the construction of honey processing units and linking farmers to urban and export markets.
As Kenya embraces climate-smart agriculture and green economy strategies, beekeeping stands out as a sustainable, low-carbon livelihood. It enhances biodiversity, supports food production, and generates income without degrading the land. For Kitui County, where over 60% of the population relies on agriculture and natural resources for survival, beekeeping offers not just economic value but also ecological hope.
