NGPU November 22, 2024

Nakuru County Takes Action on Wild Bee Invasions Amid Rising Threats

Written by Michell Uvya and James Munyua

Nakuru County is set to introduce new regulations for managing wild bees in urban areas. These by-laws and guidelines aim to protect both the public and the crucial ecological services provided by these insects.

This was revealed at a Multisector Stakeholder meeting hosted by Nakuru County at the Agriculture Training Center (ATC) to address the rising issue of wild bee invasions in Nakuru City.

Dr. Michael Cheriot, County Officer for Livestock, Fisheries, and Veterinary Services, called for urgent action to create clear guidelines for handling wild bees. “For months, we’ve been dealing with bees causing havoc in the city, stinging the public, yet there’s no legislation to handle them,” he said.

While beekeeping plays a vital role in Nakuru County’s economy, with honey and wax production valued at Ksh809 million in 2023. “The bees have become a nuisance, stinging people, including a person with a disability who tragically passed away,” Dr. Cheriot explained.

The wild bee invasion is linked to the city’s beautification efforts, particularly the flowering trees that provide nectar. Other contributing factors include Nakuru’s pesticide-free environment, open water drainages and modern architectural designs with hollow spaces that create ideal conditions for bees to form colonies in buildings, streetlights, and trees.

Virginia Ngunjire, Director of the Department of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries (DOALF) however warned that killing the bees would be counterproductive.

She emphasized the crucial role bees play in biodiversity and agriculture. “The world would become extinct in the first four years if bees were killed, I urged the stakeholders to prioritize the safe evacuation of bees in urban areas instead of killing them.

The department of Disaster Management Department will take the lead in handling bee-related cases, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and training to ensure the safe handling of the bee evacuations.

Also Present at the meeting were Chief Officer Kibet Kurgat (Co-operative and Entrepreneurship)