From the slums of Nairobi to growing a honey venture

In 2021, when the world was still reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainty, misfortunes, and confusion, two women crossed paths in the most unexpected way.

Diana Musa, now the Product Manager of our honey venture, and I, Sarah Anupi, Founder of Planet Plus Kenya, met at a hairdressing class sponsored by the KCB Foundation’s 2jiajiri program. We hit it off instantly, not knowing what fate had in store for us.

Diana was a young mother in her early 20s, bravely raising two boys while nurturing a budding interest in entrepreneurship, something she hoped would secure a better future for her family. I, on the other hand, was healing from the emotional weight of a difficult breakup. To cope, I threw myself into two schools and a writing job at Parents Magazine leaving me with merely 4 hours of sleep every night.

We were walking different paths, but we shared a silent determination, to overcome hardship and build financial security. Both of us grew up in Nairobi’s informal settlements her in Dandora, me on the other hand in Mukuru Kayaba and those experiences shaped our grit and resolve.

So, when I launched Planet Plus Kenya and introduced Mzee Konana and Anupi’s Pure Honey, Diana was the first person I thought of. By June 2023, we were standing side by side at the Youth in Forestry Conference at the KCB Leadership Centre in Karen. It was our first exhibition. We didn’t sell much that day, but we made a vow: to see this venture through.

Since then, our honey has reached tables across Kenya and as far as America, Belgium, the UAE, and Canada. Along the way, our friendship has deepened. We talk every day, not just as business partners, but as sisters sending each other voice messages about the silly things that make up our lives. Of course, like any partnership, we’ve had our clashes. We even had a brawl over the pace of growth: Diana felt unseen, while I felt she was not giving the business her all. But working through those moments made our bond even stronger.

Consequently, we have grown closer seeking out every opportunity to showcase our honey as a show of our resilience. So far we have done that at exhibitions hosted by KCB Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, and platforms like the UN Women Forum and KEPSA’s Annual Sustainability Conference. These events have given us the chance to tell our story; a story of courage, community, and persistence.

Wherever we go, we don’t just sell honey. We share our journey. We show people that this product sustains not just us, but also our partners, our communities, and our education and restoration programs.

Ours is more than just honey, it is a vision for resilience, community, and conservation.

Contact us to taste the product we’ve poured our hearts and souls into.