Joreen Wanini Kinyua is the visionary founder of Joreen Honey, a company dedicated to producing and selling organic honey while also offering beekeeping training to farmers. Her inspiration stemmed from her family’s difficulty in finding high-quality honey. Frustrated by the prevalence of low-quality and adulterated honey, Joreen decided to enroll in a beekeeping and honey processing course at the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) to gain the necessary expertise. Using Sh. 150,000 saved from her college allowance, she launched Joreen Honey in 2019.
Joreen Honey has since created employment opportunities for ten individuals. Her team handles the entire honey production process, from aggregating and sourcing raw materials to production, packaging, labeling, and distribution. Joreen ensures the high quality of her products by sourcing raw materials from various regions in Kenya, including Baringo, West Pokot, Nanyuki, Laikipia, and Meru, as well as from Tanzania and Uganda. Each batch of honey is tested during aggregation to guarantee its purity.
Joreen Honey began its operations in 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a surge in demand for honey. During this period, many people used honey to sweeten a health mixture called ‘dawa,’ made from ginger, garlic, and lemon. Joreen Honey offers bulk orders at Sh. 350 per kilo, with a minimum order quantity of one ton, and smaller quantities at Sh. 350 for 500 grams.
Despite challenges such as occasionally receiving adulterated honey from farmers, Joreen remains dedicated to providing high-quality, organic honey to her customers. She trains farmers in proper beekeeping practices and collaborates with trusted suppliers to maintain the quality of her raw materials. Her entrepreneurial efforts have been recognized with several awards, including being named Youth of the Year in the Top 35 Under 35 Youths in Kenya and winning the FOYA Global award in the manufacturing category. Additionally, she has been nominated for the Zuri Awards 2021 in both the entrepreneurship and agriculture categories.
