Case Studies for Honeybee Breeding Research: Beekeeping Status in Kenya

Beekeeping has a long history in Kenya, where bees were hunted for honey which was valued as food and as dowry during customary marriages. Modern bee keeping was introduced by colonial government in the 1950s, further promoted by government and other development actors after independence. In Kenya beekeeping is regarded in public policy as a minor economic sub-sector and as such is positioned alongside livestock development policy. The Apiculture (beekeeping) and Emerging Livestock Division is located within the Kenyan Ministry of Livestock. Two methods of beekeeping are mostly practiced traditional and modern beekeeping. Traditional method is more popular compared to the latter. Beekeepers often organize themselves through beekeeping groups at local level but Kenya has no active national beekeeping organization. The current industry is characterized by individual companies that promote and sell modern equipment and services to beekeepers. Some of the companies go to extra mile to engage the interested farmers to contract farming. The Kenyan Government recognizes important role the beekeeping plays in the ASALS thus advocating it as an alternative source of livelihood the communities.