Kenya has officially stepped into a new frontier in agricultural enterprise following the launch of Africa’s first dedicated bee venom marketplace in Nairobi, a move the government says could unlock millions in export earnings and create jobs across the country.
Speaking during the launch, Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Wycliffe Oparanya, described the initiative as a bold shift towards value addition and innovation, calling on Kenyan enterprises to stop exporting raw materials and instead focus on finished products that can compete globally.
The marketplace, pioneered by Savannah Honey under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Paul Mutua, positions Kenya as the first country in Africa to operationalise a structured centre dedicated to the production, processing and marketing of bee venom.
For years, Kenya’s beekeeping industry has largely revolved around honey and wax.
But Oparanya and Mutua said the future lies in specialised, high-value products such as bee venom and other extracts that are increasingly in demand in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and alternative medicine.
“One of our key priorities is manufacturing and value addition as a pathway to job creation. Kenya must move from exporting raw materials to exporting finished products. The bee products value chain is a strong example of how value addition can unlock new industries, create employment and increase farmer incomes.,” he said, noting that global demand for bee extracts continues to rise steadily.
“Demand for bee products globally has increased exponentially. Kenya currently produces about 8 metric tonnes of honey against a demand of approximately 47 million metric tonnes, forcing us to import to meet local needs. This gap represents a huge opportunity for our farmers and MSMEs,” he added.
According to market projections cited during the event, the global bee extract market is expected to grow from about USD 438 million in 2026 to approximately USD 570.56 million by 2034.
Oparanya challenged local enterprises to strategically position themselves to capture a share of that market.
The Cabinet Secretary pointed to the glaring gap in local honey production as evidence of untapped potential.
Kenya currently produces about eight metric tonnes of honey against a demand estimated at 47 million metric tonnes, forcing the country to import to bridge the deficit. He termed the shortfall a “huge opportunity” for farmers, cooperatives and MSMEs.
“Currently, we are looking for farmers across the counties to contract to do 10,000 hives in the next 6 months in order to satisfy an existing order for bee venom. 1kg of bee venom is bought at Savannah Honey at Ksh.4million,” said Mutua.
Under the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, MSMEs remain central to job creation, particularly for youth and women.
Oparanya said his ministry is rolling out policy and regulatory reforms designed to strengthen value chains, improve access to markets and expand financing options for small enterprises seeking to scale up.
The ministry, he said, is working with financial institutions, cooperatives and development partners to design financing models tailored to youth- and women-led enterprises.
Beyond income generation, Oparanya highlighted beekeeping as a climate-smart investment.
With nearly 80 per cent of Kenya’s land classified as semi-arid and unsuitable for conventional crop farming, apiculture offers a viable alternative that supports biodiversity while providing livelihoods.
Bees play a critical role in pollination, enhancing agricultural productivity even in other sectors.
And Savannah Honey’s model offers a blueprint for scaling the industry.
The company trains farmers in modern beekeeping practices, supplies Langstroth hives, deploys field agents for technical support and provides a ready market for bee products.
Such end-to-end solutions, Oparanya noted, are essential if farmers are to benefit meaningfully from emerging global markets.
With public and private players now working in tandem, the humble bee may soon become one of Kenya’s most valuable economic allies.