Lisa Khakayi Njenga is the founder of Oh Honey!, an award-winning youth-led registered beekeeping business in Nakuru, Kenya.
The company harvests, manufactures, and sells raw organic honey, as well as organic goods produced from beeswax, royal jelly and propolis.
Lisa, a consultant, communications professional, and psychologist, abandoned her job to start Oh Honey!, which focuses on sustainable beekeeping techniques.
She enrolled in the United States International University – Africa after completing her secondary schooling.
However, Lisa became pregnant during her second year and had to take a vacation from school until 2014, when she resumed her studies.
She subsequently formed the African Union Youth Club-USIU branch.
“As I poured my heart and soul into leading the African Union Youth Club, our membership grew steadily, attracting nearly 100 members by the second semester,” she stated.
Lisa finished her studies in 2018 and graduated with a degree in Psychology and a minor in journalism.
She eventually moved to Ethiopia and worked as a program assistant for the United Nations Women.
Lisa was exposed to the realm of international relations and diplomacy, and she participated in a variety of programs, including African Girls Can Code.
“I flourished in my role, drawing on the abilities I learned while studying and the enthusiasm I developed for youth empowerment
“Working with dedicated professionals in the field,” she explained.
Lisa was also accepted into the African Union young Volunteer (AUYV) program after being selected as one of 100 African young ambassadors.
This program allowed her to interact with numerous partner groups inside the African Union Commission, demonstrating her wide skill set and enthusiasm for change.
Lisa eventually returned to Kenya and began working remotely; this shift also led her to the decision to pursue a career in agriculture.
She and her partner decided to invest in apiculture because her mother was interested in it, even if she just kept bees for domestic consumption.
“My mum had kept a few bee hives for her own consumption and after some further research and brainstorming with my business partner, we got to learn that bee-keeping is one of the least labor-intensive yet highly lucrative agribusinesses,” explained Lisa.
Oh Honey produces organic honey, honey-infused products, and creative hive-based products.
This includes delicious honey-infused chocolates, soothing beeswax lip balms, beeswax-scented candles, and royal jelly-based body butter.
They employ eco-friendly reusable packaging and specifically designed bamboo lid sticks on honey jars to preserve the honey and slow crystallization.
Oh Honey also pledges to plant a tree for every product purchased to reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to environmental conservation.
