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Bee farmers gather under the generous shade of an ancient Mkungu tree, whose leaves and branches are broad enough to shade all of us. The tree is a silent witness to this bee-farming conversation, which carries the kind of familiarity that only neighbors from the same village can share — not too deep, not shallow, but just right, like a well-worn path between homes.
The village is quiet. Unfenced houses dot the landscape, and cows stand tethered to poles. Children dart between trees, playing games known only to them, and stray dogs wander like curious spirits. There is an air of calmness that almost feels sacred, broken only by the sound of birds and the rustle of palm fronds heavy with madafu’s.
Today, our focus is on mangrove honey. In Yungi, Mbweni, and Mwenjeni villages in Kwale County, bee farmers have organized themselves into groups, mirroring the structured harmony of the bees they care for. Like a hive, each person has a role: some scout the mangrove forests for the perfect hive spots, others ensure the apiaries are maintained, and all work toward a common goal — pure, golden honey harvested from nature.
The mangroves, whose roots weave into the salty ocean water like ancient fingers, are more than a backdrop. They are life itself. They cradle fish nurseries, hold the land together, and hum with the industrious buzz of bees. Carefully crafted beehives are positioned on these trees, bees settle in and are later taken to the apiary.
I had this conversation with one of the bee farmers. He proudly tells me how this honey production project has transformed his life, from the bee trapping training session to honey harvesting.
The women are particularly enthusiastic. They say bee farming requires just a little patience. It’s simple: You set the hives in the mangrove forest for bee trapping; nature does the rest, and you harvest the rewards.
The project has brought more than honey to these villages — it has brought hope. Once just part of the scenery, the mangroves blend sustainability with prosperity. As the farmers talk and plan under the Mkungu tree, you can feel that this is more than a project — it’s a business.
The Shimoni-Vanga seascape apiculture scale-up project is funded by the Livelihood Impact Fund and implemented by COMRED.
