ABOUT US

BHIVE HONEY (pronounced bee-hive huhn-ee) harvests, discovers, analyzes, refines and packages high-quality honey from Kitui County and other rural areas in Kenya uncontaminated by chemical farming. We work with revered suppliers and retailers to reconcile BHIVE HONEY (in 500g and 1kg bottles) with discerning local and international buyers. Repeat as well as new clients attest to BHIVE HONEY’s unparalleled customer service, product quality and product innovation.

LEADERSHIP

The founding members of BHIVE HONEY are a close-knit group of apiarists and naturalists with acclaimed success and expertise in beekeeping as well as sales and marketing.

Justina M. (CEO/Director, Supply Chain & Quality Assurance): Born into apiary, Justina possesses hands-on honey production expertise (she oversees BHIVE HONEY’s apiary in Kitui) as well as strong beekeeper relationships, across East Africa, thereby guaranteeing product security and supply credibility. A self-assured naturalist, Justina’s quality assurance responsibility blends seamlessly with her background in pharmaceuticals and over 10 years experience with an international health company specializing in high-quality food supplements. Besides evaluating product quality and safety (through rigorous assessment of the moisture content and presence or absence of chemical or microbial elements in honey set to be acquired by BHIVE HONEY LIMITED), Justina’s unmatched wealth of contacts continues to benefit our sales endeavours. Justina chairs the operations and corporate governance committees. She is also the greatest fan of BHIVE HONEY’s ginger-honey-lemon-orange-hot water healthy drink.

John M. (Director, Marketing & Research): A 5th generation apiarist, John’s remarkable proficiencies in business marketing as well as unparalleled access to cutting-edge apiculture research (having taught in two revered African Universities and worked with a leading South Africa-based business path-finding firm) project him to the helm of BHIVE HONEY’s marketing and research divisions. John also chairs the human resource and remunerations committee.

Team BHIVE HONEY: The founders work with revered beekeepers, dependable suppliers/retailers, motivated employees and independent advisers who; guarantee high-quality honey security, reconcile BHIVE HONEY with discerning buyers, share sales and marketing responsibilities, and afford the company strategic advice on transactions and business-related issues, respectively. Collectively, BHIVE HONEY’s dynamic team is perfectly poised to deliver dramatic results in East Africa and global honey markets.

COMPANY HISTORY

1924: Mzee Ngesu is born into a family of beekeepers in Kitui, Kenya.

1950-1972: Mzee Ngesu increases the number of beehives in family farms in Kitui East (Engamba) and Kitui Central (Mulango), amid growing family obligations (most of his children are of school-going age).

1988: Mzee Ngesu scales down honey production, amid failing health and concerns over climate variability in Kitui.

1988-2014: Some of the family members continue the 200-year family tradition of beekeeping and establish beekeeper relations with leading honey packers based in Nairobi.

2014-2016: 200-year old honey sales family business is formalized after BHIVE HONEY LIMITED is incorporated. New York-based Brazilian branding expert designs BHIVE HONEY’s award winning label. BHIVE HONEY LIMITED receives KEBS approval certificate and establishes a honey refinery facility along Mombasa Road, Nairobi.  

2017: Paris-based Jewish photographer produces the first set of BHIVE HONEY product photos. BHIVE HONEY directors launch the company’s website and formalize a honey testing arrangement with a government-owned facility.

2018: BHIVE HONEY installs close to a hundred hives on the family farm in Mulango, Kitui County. BHIVE HONEY also sets up a small office and refinery facility along Kombe Road, Karen.

2019: BHIVE HONEY engages Kitui County with the intention of executing a Honey Wealth Creation project. The project aims to increase the county’s revenue from export of honey, boost beekeeping skills transfer to locals, improve livelihoods of residents and conserve the environment.

2020: BHIVE HONEY LIMITED invites interested beekeepers to join the company’s network of franchisees/ license holders.