Joreen Wanini Kinyua is the founder of Joreen Honey, a company that specializes in producing and selling organic honey while also providing beekeeping training to farmers. Joreen’s inspiration for starting the business came from her family’s struggle to access high-quality honey. Having experienced the frustration of purchasing low-quality or adulterated honey, Joreen enrolled in a beekeeping and honey processing course at Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. With Sh. 150,000 of savings from her college pocket money, she established Joreen Honey in 2019.
Joreen Honey has created employment opportunities, providing jobs for ten individuals. Her team is responsible for honey production, which involves aggregation, sourcing of raw materials, production, packaging, labelling, and distribution. Joreen ensures the quality of her products by sourcing her raw materials from different regions in Kenya, such as Baringo, West Pokot, Nanyuki, Laikipia, and Meru, as well as from Tanzania and Uganda. She also tests every honey during aggregation to ensure that it is pure.
Joreen Honey started its operations in 2020, just before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to an increase in demand for honey. During the pandemic period, many people consumed a mixture of ginger, garlic, and lemon called ‘dawa,’ and they would use honey to sweeten it. For bulk orders, a kilo costs Sh. 350 with a minimum quantity order of 1 ton, while 500g costs Sh. 350.
Despite challenges such as receiving adulterated honey from some farmers, Joreen remains committed to providing high-quality, organic honey to her customers. She provides training to farmers on proper beekeeping practices and works with trusted suppliers to ensure the quality of her raw materials. Joreen has received several awards for her entrepreneurial achievements, 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. She has also been nominated for the Zuri Awards 2021 in both the entrepreneurship and agriculture categories.
