Diversifying Livelihoods through sustainable beekeeping 

In Illaimirror village, Poka/Kenyewa Ward of Kajiado East Sub-County, the story of resilience is now spreading among men. A group of Maasai men have come together to form a men’s beekeeping group. Traditionally dependent on livestock, a livelihood that is capital-intensive and highly vulnerable to drought, these men saw an opportunity to diversify their income through beekeeping. 

With guidance and support from Dedicated Children’s Agency (DeCA) in partnership with the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF), the men purchased 8 modern beehives and received training in hive management, honey harvesting, and safe handling techniques. They are now producing honey as a sustainable income source alongside livestock. The group harvested 57 kg in its first harvest and sold the honey at KSh 800 per kg, earning a total of KSh 45,600. The proceeds have been reinvested to strengthen the VSLA, and the group is planning to add more beehives and initiate feedlotting as a strategy for livelihood diversification. 

“This has opened a new path for us,” Jonathan, a group member, shared. “We no longer depend only on livestock. The bees are thriving even in dry periods, and so are our families.” 

The men are looking forward to scaling up their enterprise and participating in value addition initiatives, contributing not only to household income but also to environmental conservation and the resilience of their community.