Kitui County has a strong potential for apiculture development, producing an estimated 4,000 metric tonnes of honey and 800 metric tonnes of beeswax annually. Despite this, most honey is currently sold in raw or semi-processed form, yielding minimal value to farmers. To address this gap, the County Government proposes the establishment of a modern honey refinery that will produce a wide range of high-quality bee-based products for both domestic and export markets. The refinery will process honey and beeswax into value-added products such as liquid honey, creamed honey, combed honey, unpasteurized honey, honey confectioneries, candles, soaps, body creams, lotions, shampoos, lip balms, lipsticks, propolis tinctures, and suspensions. The project will capitalize on Kitui’s existing beekeeping culture and raw material availability, while addressing current challenges of low processing capacity and management inefficiencies at smaller refineries established in 2015/2016. The proposed honey refinery is expected to cost USD 0.38 million and become operational within 2 years. The County Government of Kitui will provide land for the facility, while investors will inject direct capital for construction, equipment, and operations. The refinery is designed to create significant economic value through job creation, farmer income growth, import substitution, and export expansion.

Wholesale and Retail Trade

Money Banking and Finance

Public Private Partnership

0.38

USD

Sites identified

1.Provision of land for refinery plant construction 2.Policy support under county agricultural value chain priorities 3.Facilitation of farmer mobilization and supply chain development

kitui