Honey — golden, sweet, and natural — is quietly emerging as one of the most valuable commodities in the world. According to Mr. Kyalo Mutua, the Chief Executive Officer of Savannah Honey, “honey is now five times more expensive than oil,” and global demand is soaring, not just in Africa but across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.
We spoke to Mr. Kyalo, the brain behind Savannah Honey, a company present in 7 countries, and the only one in the region that delivers beehives, installs them for farmers, takes care of the whole process, and buys the end product from the farmer. If you have any idle land, before anything else, think about beekeeping. From our conversations with Mr. Kyalo, we discovered that Kenyans are sitting on a goldmine: bees. Dive in.
In Kenya, a kilo of pure honey fetches between KSh 1,000 and KSh 1,800, more than five times the cost of a litre of petrol. In the Arab market, the same jar can go for as high as $25 (KSh 3,300). With such prices, it’s no surprise that honey producers across the world are buzzing with anticipation. Yet, in a country blessed with endless acres of fertile land and year-round flowering vegetation, Kenya is only tapping 20% of its honey production potential.
A Sleeping Giant in the Making
Beekeeping has existed in Kenya for centuries, often as a side activity or a traditional practice passed down through generations. But today, it represents a multi-billion-shilling industry waiting to be unlocked. Kenya’s potential honey output is estimated at 100,000 metric tonnes annually, yet only a fraction is being produced — largely due to a lack of modern equipment, technical skills, and awareness.
As Mr. Kyalo Mutua, the CEO and Founder of Savannah Honey, aptly puts it, “There are people who have left their land idle when they can get millions of shillings out of it.” The math supports him: one acre of well-managed apiaries can yield multiple income streams — from honey, beeswax, and royal jelly to propolis, pollen, and even bee venom.
The Gold Within the Hive
Few realize that a gram of bee venom costs about KSh 8,000, making it seven times more valuable than gold. Royal jelly, a protein-rich secretion that feeds the queen bee, sells at KSh 38,000 per kilo. Bee pollen fetches KSh 6,800, while propolis — the bees’ natural antibiotic — goes for KSh 1,900 per kilo. Even honeycomb wax, often overlooked, is used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and industrial applications.
The message is clear: bees are not just pollinators; they are tiny manufacturers of high-value natural products.
Why Kenya Is Perfect for Beekeeping
Kenya’s geographical and climatic conditions make it one of the best environments for commercial beekeeping. With vast acacia belts, flower-rich landscapes, and minimal pesticide use in many rural areas, the country has a natural edge.
“Every flowering season, Kenya leaks with nectar,” notes Evelyn Nguku, Director of Research and Development at Savannah Honey. “We have over 80% untapped potential in nectar flow.”
Unlike other forms of farming that demand heavy capital investment, beekeeping is low-cost, low-labour, and highly rewarding. It works seamlessly alongside other agricultural activities — meaning a farmer can integrate beehives into their maize field, coffee plantation, or fruit orchard with minimal disruption.
Changing the Narrative
Traditionally, beekeeping in Kenya has been perceived as the domain of the poor or rural elderly. This perception has hindered its commercialization. Yet, across the world, honey has become a premium health and lifestyle product — celebrated for its medicinal, nutritional, and cosmetic benefits.
Pure natural honey never expires. It’s a proven antioxidant, an antibacterial remedy, a natural wound healer, and an immune booster. From easing sore throats to managing weight and improving skin health, honey’s versatility gives it both culinary and therapeutic prestige.
Similarly, beeswax has become a core ingredient in the global beauty and skincare industry. Its anti-inflammatory and moisture-locking properties make it ideal for lip balms, creams, and salves. Industrially, it’s used as a corrosion-resistant coating and even in cheese preservation.
Royal jelly, on the other hand, continues to attract attention in the nutraceutical market — renowned for its fertility and menopausal relief benefits, and even being explored for cancer and liver disease therapies.
Empowering the Next Generation of Beekeepers
Savannah Honey has been on the frontlines of transforming Kenya’s beekeeping landscape. Over the last seven years, the company has trained thousands of aspiring beekeepers, supplied modern Langstroth hives, provided colonies, and offered end-to-end technical and market support.
The Langstroth hive, with its removable frames and efficient design, has revolutionized honey harvesting by ensuring both bee safety and higher yields. This approach is not only sustainable but also scalable, making it ideal for smallholder farmers and youth entrepreneurs.
Beekeeping: The Bridge from Poverty to Prosperity
As droughts, erratic rains, and fluctuating crop prices push many farmers to the brink, beekeeping presents a viable and sustainable alternative. It requires no irrigation, minimal maintenance, and offers guaranteed returns — as bees do the work themselves.
In the words of Mr. Kyalo, “Bees have one of the highest returns that one will ever get in any investment.” And he’s right — with honey retailing locally highly per kilo and export prices soaring, beekeeping is fast proving that the next big boom in agriculture may not come from the soil — but from the air above it.
Kenya’s potential to become Africa’s honey powerhouse is immense. The global market for natural honey and bee products continues to expand as consumers increasingly embrace wellness, organic nutrition, and sustainable living.
But to unlock this opportunity, there must be a deliberate national effort — one that includes training, funding, access to modern equipment, and market linkages. With the right policies and private-sector partnerships like Savannah Honey leading the way, Kenya could turn its idle lands into liquid gold mines.
After all, as oil wells dry up, the beehive remains one of nature’s most renewable sources of wealth — one that hums, heals, and pays handsomely.
