Pearched on the foot of Mt Kilimambogo, on the outskirts of Thika, is a beauty; an opportunity and a minter.
The mountain, in the heart of Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, is one of the biggest attractions in the region and so is Mr Jackson Masesi’s innovation. Mr Masesi, an entrepreneur, has turned his company into a one-stop shop that deals with all matters bees.
Masese has decorated his office with wax of different shapes, colours and sizes.
On the table are equipment like smokers and a collection of tens of honey brands from different countries.
Bee Care is the first Kenyan company allowed to export wax to the European Union, thanks to Masese’s passion for bees and bee products and support from the State Department of Veterinary Services.
Gradually, Masesi graduated to looking for orders and even secured one for the Armed Forces Canteen Organisation in Eastleigh, and other outlets, including supermarkets.
At the time, he was operating as Inento Bee Products East Africa, and had one worker, who was in charge of marketing.
To make matters worse, Masesi lost his job the same year.
However, he had only a small room, with about three kilogrammes of crude wax.
The client ordered 18 tonnes of wax, which Masesi promised to deliver.
He spent Sh100,000 looking for the wax from across the country but barely got enough, prompting him to cross the border to Tanzania.
Masesi would later get contacts with many more clients in US, Germany, the EU and other regions.
He, however, worked with a potential client and the veterinary department and got listed to export to this lucrative market.
Masesi now exports crude wax to the US, Germany, Britain and Spain.
One must have a business permit from the county government and an export licence and health certificate to be in the export business.
While wax is his main business, honey comes second, but is almost being overtaken by beekeeping equipment, especially the hives he makes.
Peter Kagio, an apiculture and sericulture lecturer at Egerton University, says while many people ignore apiculture, it has very many opportunities.
