Savannah Honey recognised at National Business Leadership Awards

The CEO for Savannah Honey, Kyalo Mutua; the programme manager, Winfred Muindi; and Lameck Tala, the head of communications, receive the Best Beekeeping Company of the Year award from the National Business Leadership Awards (NaBLA). The NaBLA awards took place Thursday, October 6, 2025, at the Weston Hotel./HANDOUT

Kenya’s beekeeping industry has received a boost after Savannah Honey Limited was recognised as Kenya’s Best Beekeeping Company at the National Business Leadership Awards (NaBLA).

The recognition highlights the company’s role in advancing modern apiculture, farmer training, and sustainable honey production in Kenya and the wider East African region.

Savannah Honey was commended for introducing modern beekeeping technology and building market linkages that have enabled smallholder farmers to profit from bee products such as honey, wax, propolis, and royal jelly.

According to the NaBLA citation, the firm has been instrumental in “transforming beekeeping into a viable commercial and environmental enterprise through innovation, value addition, and farmer empowerment.”

The company manufactures and supplies a wide range of equipment including Langstroth beehives, honey extractors, protective suits, and wax foundations, designed for efficiency and durability under African conditions.

It also provides installation and training services to ensure farmers make the most of the equipment. Savannah Honey has diversified its operations beyond honey production by venturing into value-added natural cosmetics, including propolis soaps, lip balms, and royal jelly lotions.

The firm is also noted as the only company in Africa producing bee venom cream and bee venom oil, used for skin therapy and apitherapy treatments. The company’s capacity-building programmes have also been pivotal in growing the sector.

Through free installation, training, and technical support, Savannah Honey has equipped thousands of farmers with practical skills in hive management, colony health, and honey processing. To address market access challenges faced by beekeepers, the company has adopted a contract-based model that guarantees stable prices for bee products.

Farmers supply products such as honey at Sh500 per kilogram, wax at Sh700, propolis at Sh1,900, royal jelly at Sh38,000, and bee venom at Sh4,000 per gram under five-year agreements.

This approach has enabled farmers, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, to earn consistent income despite unpredictable weather patterns that often affect crop farming.

Savannah Honey’s operations also extend beyond Kenya, with partnerships and training programmes in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Somalia.

These collaborations have helped spread modern beekeeping techniques and improved honey quality across the region.

By blending technology, research, and fair trade principles, Savannah Honey has positioned itself as a key player in Kenya’s growing apiculture industry.

The recognition at NaBLA reflects the firm’s contribution to sustainable farming, rural empowerment, and environmental conservation.