How high-value bee products can unlock millions for Kenyans

For decades, beekeeping was primarily associated with honey production, while other hive products were often treated as waste and discarded.

However, this perspective is changing due to growing awareness of other hive products, some of which are more valuable than honey.

Today, through training, farmer empowerment and improved technologies, there is a growing effort to harness big money from products that were once overlooked and discarded as by-products.

Farmers like Alfred Musyoka ventured into beekeeping 10 years ago, starting with just three makeshift hives specifically for honey production.

From the three beehives, he harvested about nine kilogrammes (kgs) per season, which he sold at Sh800 per kilo, earning a total of Sh7,200. “The money I got from bees supported my livelihood. It paid bills for my family, including my children’s education,” he says.

Even after expanding his hives to 10 and later 15, Musyoka admits he never knew bees produced anything apart from honey.

Three years ago, he was introduced to a beekeeping organisation that trained him on other valuable hive products, including bee venom, royal jelly, pollen and propolis.

After conducting market research, Musyoka discovered what he describes as hidden gold. “The prices of products I didn’t even know existed shocked me. They are many times higher than honey, which we have relied on for years,” he says.

Some of these products fetch significantly higher prices than honey. s that the global bee venom extract market is valued at $438 million (Sh57 billion) in 2026, and is projected to grow to over $726 million (Sh94 billion) by 2036.

Bee venom is in high demand, particularly in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, health and research industries.

Paul Kyalo Mutua, a bee expert and CEO of Savannah Honey, says farmers must understand that a single hive produces multiple products, not just honey. With proper training and equipment, they can significantly increase their income.

Initially, he says, his company focused purely on honey production. However, over time, they learned that globally, beekeeping has evolved beyond honey.

“Through research and partnerships with international organisations, we discovered that in countries like the Netherlands, China, and Canada, beekeeping is not centred on honey at all. In fact, honey is one of the lowest-value products in the hive,” he says.

Mutua, who was speaking during the Savanna Honey’s launch of Africa’s first bee venom marketplace in Utawala, Nairobi, attributes the shift largely to knowledge transfer and technological advancement from countries such as China and Canada.

For example, in the past, people relied on live bee stings to treat arthritis. Today, farmers use venom collector machines to harvest bee venom without being stung or harming the bees. Technology has made the process safer and more efficient.

Currently, Kenya imports about 96 per cent of the propolis used in the country and 98 per cent of royal jelly and bee venom.

Mutua notes that Kenya, like many African countries, has not fully tapped into the high-value bee products market due to limited information, inadequate technology, lack of coordinated markets, and poor standardisation.

“Compared to countries like China and Canada, Kenya is more than 90 per cent behind,” he explains.

He adds that bee venom, like any agricultural product, has grades. Buyers may require Grade A rather than Grade B. Without proper standardisation, accessing serious markets becomes difficult.

The company is working closely with the government and the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe) to ensure proper standards in the sector.

Dr Ayuka Fombong, a research scientist at Icipe, says they partnered with Savannah Honey about six years ago after the company qualified as a vendor when Icipe opened its supplier list to new applicants, a process conducted every three years.

“Our collaboration has grown through a climate change project running in 15 African countries. The initiative seeks to diversify farming systems, especially fruit trees and edible beans, by integrating insect-based technologies that strengthen production,” he says.

Dr Fombong adds that Icipe’s 2026–2030 strategy of Impacting Nature and Society aligns with beekeeping by linking livelihoods to environmental conservation.

James Kidaki is among the farmers already benefiting from hive products beyond honey. He began beekeeping in 2015 primarily for honey production.

Later, Savannah Honey contracted him as one of its 15,780 farmers across the country. Besides training in specialised bee management and extraction of pollen and propolis, the company also sold him modern beehives.

“With modern hives, I can extract bee pollen, venom and propolis. However, I do not yet own specialised equipment, so the company provides harvesting and extraction services,” says Kidaki from Vihiga.

Though operating on a small scale, Kidaki is already earning more from propolis and pollen than he would have from honey alone.

Currently, he collects about two of propolis per hive. With 15 hives, he harvests 30kg of propolis in a six-month season. Selling at Sh3,000 per kilo, he earns Sh90,000 from propolis alone. From pollen, he makes roughly Sh50,000 per year.

“This is just the beginning. I look forward to earning more money in the future,” Kidaki says.

The main challenge farmers face is capital. High-value product production requires specialised equipment. Pollen and propolis collectors require significant investment. A venom collector machine costs about Sh60,000.

“However, these machines are one-time investments and can serve a farmer for many years. We are also partnering with microfinance institutions and lenders, including Equity Bank, to support farmers financially,” Mutua says.

Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Wycliffe Oparanya, lauded the launch of Africa’s first bee venom marketplace by Savannah Honey, saying it demonstrates the direction Kenya must take in building an economy driven by innovation, value addition, and enterprise growth.

“This launch is not only about bee products, but about creating jobs, expanding markets, and positioning MSMEs to compete globally,” he says.

He adds that the bee products value chain demonstrates how value addition can unlock new industries, create employment and increase farmer incomes. Global demand for bee products has increased significantly.

Kenya currently produces about eight tonnes of honey against a demand of about 47,000 tonnes, forcing the country to import more to meet local needs. This gap represents a major opportunity for farmers and MSMEs.

Statistics from the Ministry show that global demand for bee extracts continues to grow, with market projections indicating the industry could reach $570.56 million (Sh74 billion) by 2034, up from about $438 million (Sh57 billion) in 2026.

Oparanya says Kenya must strategically position itself to take advantage of emerging markets in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and alternative medicine.

He urges farmers to embrace green and climate-smart investments.

“Beekeeping is not only an economic activity but also a climate action intervention. Bees support pollination and biodiversity while providing income opportunities for communities,” he explains.

He notes that about 80 per cent of Kenya’s land mass is semi-arid and not optimally utilised for crop farming. Beekeeping offers an alternative economic activity that can transform these areas into productive, income-generating zones.

Farmers in dairy, coffee, sugarcane, avocado, and other sectors can significantly increase their incomes through integrated beekeeping without requiring additional land, he adds.

“With the right investments in value addition, quality assurance, and market access, our MSMEs can participate effectively in this global value chain,” Oparanya says, noting that the ministry is prioritising digital transformation to help MSMEs access wider markets.

Mutua says the company has secured a major order for bee venom and is proud to be the first African enterprise handling the entire bee venom value chain — from training and harvesting to storage, preservation, value addition, and market access.

“This is driving our nationwide expansion. Currently, we are looking to contract farmers across counties to manage 10,000 hives in the next six months to fulfil an existing order for bee venom,” he says.

Mutua has also established Africa’s first cosmetic line focused on more than 12 bee venom products.