Maseto Kusen: Sweetening the Ecosystem Through Beekeeping 

Half of Kenya’s forest cover was lost between 1980 and 2000, a staggering number that exacerbated climate change issues. In Mau Forest, a quarter of its 400,000 hectares disappeared as one tree after another was brought down for logging and charcoal burning. As a little boy, Maseto Kusen watched as forest rangers, who ought to have been Mau’s first line of defence, turned a blind eye to the destruction and even partook in it. The forest he had called home all his life was slowly vanishing, and his community felt helpless to stop the catastrophe. But amid this calamity, Maseto also witnessed something awe-inspiring.  

Specific trees in Mau Forest were spared as others around them were hacked down, simply because they housed beehives. Many members of the Ogiek community who inhabit Mau Forest are beekeepers, a practice that has been passed down through generations. Hives were set up on the oldest forest trees and the honey harvested was consumed as a dietary supplement by this hunter-gatherer community. As Mau Forest continued to shrink during the final two decades of the 20th century, trees with beehives were left untouched. This was because of the trouble it would have directly caused the Ogiek people who protected their beehives fiercely. To Maseto, this was a testament to the necessity of beekeeping in forest protection. It was during this tumultuous period that Maseto cemented his choice to follow in the footsteps of his father and forefathers.  

Exploring a New Path

The first lesson Maseto had to learn was how to make a beehive. Ogiek culture forbids the indiscriminate cutting down of trees, so Maseto learnt how to search the forest floor for trunks of trees that died and came down naturally. This trunk could be cut down to the desired size, hollowed out, and positioned atop a tree in readiness for a bee colony to make it their home. This apprenticeship deepened his belief that there was no good reason to cut down trees. The forest would always reward patience.  

By the age of 15, Maseto already owned 150 hives, 50 more than his father at the time. But he was determined to have more. His goal was to put hives on as many trees as possible. His mandate eventually became his life’s work after completing his studies as he dedicated more of his time to beekeeping. Years of training led him to mastering his skill. He spent his days surrounded by bees and honey.  

By the 2010s, the aftermath of deforestation was felt on a national scale. There were prolonged droughts, dwindling wetland volumes, animal endangerment due to habitat loss, and increased human-wildlife conflict. The value of Mau Forest was finally being appreciated. The government was also stepping in with improved legislation aimed at preventing further deforestation and regenerating the old forest cover. Non-profits were also turning their attention to the plight of Mau, lending their resources to its protection.

A Community Venture

At the same time, Maseto was also thinking of ways to make beekeeping a more lucrative venture for his community. In 2013, he founded Naretui Beekeepers Self Help Group. This group focused on finding ways to maximize profits from beekeeping. The group also caught the attention of companies hoping to reverse the tide of climate change. Rhino Ark became a trusted ally to the group, providing knowledge about modern beekeeping practices. Farmers could integrate these into their traditional practices to boost sales.  

Simple lessons such as selling honey by weight rather than by estimation worked wonders for Maseto and the members of his group. With the right assistance, honey production doubled, and demand soared. Maseto was debunking the adage that says, “there is no money in honey”. And with this steady income, Maseto was able to continue in his pursuit of covering the forest in beehives. These efforts have led him to become the proud owner of over 500 individual hives and another 500 he co-shares with his group. Each of his hives can now produce about 20 kilograms of organic honey annually, and each kilo sells for Kshs. 1,000.  

Even as the forest cover is slowly regenerating through reforestation efforts, Maseto’s fight to protect the forest continues. His beekeeping work remains pivotal in keeping the ecosystem alive.  

#WakulimaWetu