Kitui beekeepers are set to benefit from improved market access and potentially higher earnings following a new honey supply partnership between Kamaki Farmers’ Cooperative Society and MaCuisine.
The partnership, formalised through an offtake agreement, will see honey produced by the cooperative marketed under the premium brand Kitui Reserve, opening up opportunities for local farmers to reach higher-value markets.
The agreement was announced during a Honey Business Empowerment Event in Muangeni attended by Principal Secretary for Livestock Development Jonathan Mueke, who reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening Kenya’s apiculture sector through investment, modern technology and private-sector partnerships.
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Mueke congratulated Kitui farmers for maintaining high honey quality, saying stronger market linkages were essential in turning beekeeping into a more productive and commercially viable enterprise.
The partnership comes against the backdrop of a significant gap between Kenya’s honey production and domestic demand, presenting an opportunity for counties with established beekeeping activities to expand production and capture a larger share of the market.
Kenya has approximately 1.8 million beehives and produced 20,602.5 metric tonnes of honey in 2025, according to national economic statistics. This remains below the country’s estimated domestic demand of about 43,500 tonnes annually.
Kitui is among the country’s leading honey-producing counties, with figures presented at the event indicating that it produced 1,889 metric tonnes valued at approximately KSh1.5 billion in 2025.
MaCuisine Chairman Joachim Westerveld said the decision to partner with Kamaki was informed by the cooperative’s production capacity, quality standards and entrepreneurial potential.
He said the Kitui Reserve brand would give the cooperative’s honey a distinct identity, positioning it for premium market opportunities.
The development also builds on the cooperative’s progress in quality assurance and product certification. Kitui County Chief Officer for Cooperatives Paul Ngei highlighted its achievement of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) Diamond Mark of Quality and certification from the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI).
Kitui South MP Dr Rachael Kaki Nyamai commended Mueke for facilitating strategic partnerships aimed at empowering local communities, while praising farmers for maintaining high production standards.
Beyond market access, the Government announced additional support to increase the county’s honey production capacity.
Through the State Department for Livestock Development, Mueke distributed modern beehives designed to support up to twice the farmers’ current production capacity, alongside other beekeeping equipment.
He challenged beneficiaries to utilise the equipment effectively, expand their enterprises and take advantage of the emerging commercial opportunities.
The partnership marks an important development for Kitui’s agricultural economy, where beekeeping offers an alternative source of income, particularly for rural households.
The State Department said it would continue collaborating with county governments, cooperatives and private-sector players to strengthen the apiculture value chain, create employment opportunities and improve returns to farmers.
