Women lead beekeeping revolution to protect forests

Amid the lush greenery of Ndoinet forest, part of the Mau forest complex, the gentle hum of bees blends harmoniously with the rustling of leaves. Grace Kogei, dressed in protective gear, carefully inspects one of her eight beehives.

The mother of four is among the few women who have dared to venture into a domain traditionally dominated by men and she is rewriting the tradition norms through her dedication.

“This one hasn’t been colonised yet. It needs some repairs and cleaning,” she says while using leaves to gently clean the hive.

Her journey began when her neighbour shared with her some honey that had just been harvested. Little did she know that the simple action would lead her to embrace a livelihood that now sustains her family.

“I have been practising beekeeping for two years now. Initially, I was only doing mixed farming at home. I saw my neighbour practising beekeeping and one day, they shared some honey with me and encouraged me to try it. I started with one traditional beehive and harvested it, now I have eight bee hives,” she said

Since she embraced the venture, Grace has harvested honey twice, gleaning 20 kilogrammes of honey which she sold at Sh600 a kilo.

“The proceeds of my last harvest paid part of my child’s school fees. I want to expand it even more. If I get some additional money, I will increase the hives. I can have to up to 50,” she says.

Grace is a member of the Ndoinet Beekeepers, a pioneering group of over 50 individuals who have ventured into beekeeping. Among the members, she stands out as one of only five women in a predominantly male group.

The shift from traditional to modern beekeeping methods has been pivotal for these dedicated women. Traditionally, beekeeping required hoisting heavy hives high into trees, a task reserved for men due to cultural norms. Women were discouraged from participating, their roles confined to cooking and caregiving. The challenges they faced included fear of bee stings, multiple responsibilities that consumed their time, and the fact that honey harvesting was done at night.

“In our Kipsigis community, beekeeping was always seen as a man’s job. The traditional hives were erected in trees, making it impossible for women like me to participate,” Grace explained.

However, with the introduction of modern hives such as the Langstroth and Top Bar varieties, these barriers have begun to crumble. The hives are designed to sit comfortably just a metre above the ground, accessible to all, regardless of height.

“The accessibility of these modern beehives has not only simplified honey harvesting but also empowered us to take control,” Grace said. “Men used to harvest at night, half-naked, a risk no woman would dare take.”

Mercy Chelule, a resident of the neighbouring Chenuku village and another member of the Ndoinet Beekeepers, shares similar sentiments.

“In our community, women were not even allowed to count the number of beehives on the farm. It was believed that if women counted them, all the bees would abscond and the farmer would not harvest any honey. But all this was just a way of preventing us from owning beehives, and it’s a long-gone belief,” she said, smiling.

“We’re changing mindsets. Beekeeping is not just a man’s job anymore. It’s a profitable business that women can excel in, even better than men,” she added.

Rhino Ark Charitable Trust, in collaboration with the National Beekeeping Institute, recently conducted a week-long training session for farmers in Molo town. The aim was to enhance the beekeeping knowledge of these farmers, who live adjacent to the Mau Forest Complex, and to improve their practices.

“We taught farmers how to make beekeeping a business and, at the same time, a conservation initiative,” said Benson Njoroge, a trainer at the National Beekeeping Institute.

 “Beekeeping provides a good income, assists in pollination, and helps yield and produce better crops. We emphasised the importance of coming together as a group to assemble their honey and add value to it to earn more money,” he said.

The Ndoinet Beekeepers are also members of the Leger Ndoinet Community Forest Association. Through efforts from both the Darwin Initiative and Rhino Ark, they have engaged in concerted efforts to conserve the Ndoinet Forest.

One of their initiatives involves tree planting, supported by their tree nursery, which primarily grows indigenous trees alongside some exotic species for commercial purposes.

The Mau Forest has often been in the headlines for illegal activities and destruction. Many people have engaged in forest destruction over the years, which, according to Njoroge, is due to a lack of alternative sources of income. This is why they have teamed up to teach the community about beekeeping as a viable alternative.

“They don’t need to burn charcoal or engage in logging. We need concerted efforts to save our environment. If we destroy our forests, bees will not have nectar to collect since the trees will be cut down. Bees help a lot in the environment by assisting in pollination,” he added.

Benard Kibet, Rhino Ark’s field officer, highlights their comprehensive approach to conservation and livelihood improvement.

“Through education and practical training, we’re fostering a new generation of beekeepers who are committed to environmental conservation,” Kibet says. “At our nursery initiative, we initially had a capacity of almost 100,000 seedlings, but we are currently at 20,000. This first phase is just the beginning; we aim to help the community manage the tree nursery independently.” 

Additionally, some community members have been recruited into the Surveillance Unit, working closely with the Kenya Forest Service to ensure the conservation and revival of the Mau ecosystem.

Joseah Mutai, who initially practised traditional beekeeping methods has transformed his approach after being trained in modern beekeeping techniques. Mutai acknowledges that the community has started to embrace women’s participation in beekeeping.

“You know, women are very good at being meticulous and they value cleanliness. Bee hives thrive in a clean environment, and women can easily maintain that,” said Mutai.

For Grace, Mercy and other members of the Ndoinet Beekeepers, beekeeping isn’t just about honey, it’s about sustainability, environmental conservation, and community development.

“If the government could support us as women by providing these modern beehives, we could do a lot because these hives are very expensive for us,” added Mercy. “Honey is more than just a product. It’s a symbol of empowerment and resilience. By conserving our forests through beekeeping, we’re not only securing our livelihoods but also preserving our natural heritage for future generations.”