Importance of co-operatives in the honey sector

By Isaac K. Nyamongo

Deputy Vice-Chancellor

The Cooperative University of Kenya

Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid lands (ASALs) possess under-tapped opportunities in apiculture, yet we import honey! From a 2025 report by the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, Kenya has a production capacity of over 100,000 metric tonnes (MT) of honey and 10,000MT of beeswax annually. But, according to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics in 2023, the country produced only 17,151MT of honey and about 3,212MT of beeswax.

The deficit results from fragmented production, weak market linkages, limited processing capacity, and inadequate support services for beekeepers. This presents a compelling case for stronger investment in the sector, with producer cooperatives offering a practical pathway to unlocking honey’s full economic, environmental, and social benefits.