KILIFI County—Jan 20, 2026—In the once maize-dependent farms of Mnarani Ward in Kilifi County, a quiet but transformative shift is taking place. As climate change tightens its grip through prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall, farmers who once relied on rain-fed maize are turning to an unlikely but resilient alternative: beekeeping.
For years, subsistence farmers in the coastal ward struggled with repeated crop failures as rainfall became increasingly unreliable.
The result was deepening poverty, food insecurity and a growing sense of uncertainty about the future of farming. Today, however, rows of beehives scattered across farms and homesteads tell a different story—one of adaptation, resilience and hope.
According to Mnarani Ward Representative Juma Chengo, the move away from maize was driven by necessity rather than choice.
“Farmers were living in poverty because they could no longer rely on maize harvests due to prolonged dry spells,” he says. “Beekeeping offers a sustainable alternative because it requires little water, is not affected by drought and does not harm the environment.”
The transition has been supported by the Kilifi County government, which has identified climate-smart agriculture as a key response to the county’s growing vulnerability to drought. Kilifi is among 11 counties nationally classified as highly drought-prone, with climate shocks becoming more frequent and severe.
Kilifi County, Agriculture Executive Committee Member Paterson Chula says more than 600 farmers in Mnarani Ward have already benefited from the distribution of 250 beehives.
The initiative, he notes, is designed not only to diversify incomes but also to tap into the growing commercial value of honey.
“Demand for honey is rising and prices continue to improve,” Chula says, adding that beekeeping presents a viable agribusiness opportunity for small-scale farmers who can no longer depend on conventional crops.
Beyond income, the honey project is also delivering social benefits. The county government plans to purchase locally produced honey for use in porridge prepared for children in public early childhood development centres, linking farmer livelihoods directly to improved nutrition outcomes.
For residents such as Irene Kitsao Zawadi and Augustus Mzungu from Timboni village, the beehives represent more than just a new farming activity—they symbolise economic stability and better health.
“This project will improve our incomes and our well-being,” they say, expressing optimism about the future.
As climate change continues to disrupt traditional farming systems across Kenya, Mnarani’s experience highlights a broader lesson: adaptation does not always mean abandoning agriculture, but reimagining it.
In Kilifi, the shift from maize to honey is proving that resilience can be cultivated—even in the driest of seasons.
