Part of Ezekiel Mumo's farm in Masinga, Machakos County. He runs 26 beehives where he harvests honey for sell four times a year besides his job. Photo courtecy.

Ezekiel Mumo, 25, who got a job with Bee Care Apiaries International last year is running his own beekeeping venture in a two acre farm at Masinga in Machakos County earning him about Sh58,000 per month which he uses to settle his bills and pay his school fees as opposed to over-relying on his basic monthly salary.

Mumo started beekeeping as fun at ten years old when he used to assist his grandfather and his uncles in managing some beehives after school and during holidays and since then he developed deep interest in the insects.

“Bee keeping is something I started long ago even before campus, and if you do something for quite long time you gain interest in it, I love apiculture so much, because it has given me a good platform for championing for food security and also environment conservation,” he said.

He is now in his fourth year at Multimedia University pursuing Bachelor in Business Information Technology and while he was at a bee-keeping exhibition in Thika explaining to a group of farmers about the art of bee-keeping, he was spotted by his employer who offered him a job at the company.

“I had gone to showcase my products at a farmers’ field day in the town where I happened to meet the company’s director Jackson Masesi who was impressed about my understanding of apiculture and accepted to offer ma a job.”

He is now the projects officer at the company where he is in charge of selling honey and beekeeping equipment such as bee suits and smokers as well as beehive installation and inspection for clients.

However, he has not abandoned his beekeeping back in the village where he is well known for it. “Mostly on weekends I go home to attend to my apiary of 26 beehives and when I am there I also attend to my client’s needs.”

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I use this money to support my education, my siblings and parents and spend the rest to settle my bills among other needs.

Mumo has four seasons of harvesting every year. “I do harvesting four times a year, in a season I can harvest up to 200 kilograms of honey giving me between 800 and 1000 kilograms of honey per year.

He sells a kilo of honey at Sh700 to retailers, local shops, and individuals who make orders of up to 50 Kilos of honey.

Due to his consistency in business and the value of his produce, he also get new customers through referrals by his loyal buyers.

 “I was planning to finish my studies this month but since lecturers went on strike our studies have been affected and we may be force to wait longer finish our programmes and graduate,” said Mumo.

Beekeeping project entice farmers with quick money

With about ten years of experience in the venture, he is also selling beekeeping equipment besides inspecting other clients’ hives especially during time off school.

“Beekeeping is something I started long ago even before campus, and if you do something for quite long time you gain interest in it, I love apiculture so much, because it has given me a good platform for championing for food security and also environment conservation,” said Mumo.

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In addition, he has since secured a job with Bee Care Apiaries International Ltd, a buyers and marketers of all bee products with global market links.

Mumo can be reached on +254 712 611207

Mumo can be reached on +254 712 611207