Honeybees are social, four-winged insects that live in colonies ranging from 10,000 to 60,000 individuals. Each colony has three castes: a fertile female called the queen, hundreds of males known as drones, and thousands of sterile female workers. Beekeepers manage bees in hives, which vary from traditional to improved designs. Honey production depends largely on hive type and management practices, ranging from 5 kg per year in traditional hives to 60 kg per year in improved hives. An estimated 150,000 households in Kenya keep bees for honey and pollination.
The main honeybee races in Kenya include Apis mellifera yemenitica, scutellata, littorea, and monticola. Apis mellifera yemenitica is the smallest race, with a slender body and large yellow abdominal band, mostly found in northern Kenya and adapted to survive droughts through migration. Apis mellifera scutellata, from central Kenya’s savannahs, is highly aggressive, swarms frequently, and nests in diverse sites. It is productive and reproduces rapidly following seasonal flowering. Apis mellifera littorea inhabits the coastal lowlands, rearing brood throughout the year due to consistent forage availability and migrating less. Apis mellifera monticola, the mountain bee, is the largest African race, found in high-altitude areas such as Mt. Kenya and Mt. Elgon. It is gentle, less aggressive, and reduces brood rearing during forage scarcity.
Honeybees play a vital role in providing honey, supporting pollination, and sustaining livelihoods across Kenya. Each race is adapted to specific environments, and proper management enhances their productivity and survival.