Jason Runo, from Improv comedy to the secret life of bees

Jason Runo, man in a black T shirt, smiling at camera while seated next to yellow beehives in a woody forest.
Jason Runo with his beehives

This week’s Mr Entrepreneur is Jason Runo, an improv comedian and MC turned beekeeper. Jason Runo is behind the wildly successful show Because You Said So, Kenya’s first live improv comedy show. He has worn many hats, from working as cabin crew at KQ to being an events organiser, MC and comedian. In 2020 he decided to move to Nyahururu and start talking to bees. His highlights on his Instagram page are exactly what the doctor ordered, with clips on country life and the rudimentary ‘gachai’ that his neighbours generously share with him at every opportunity. I caught up with him when he visited Nairobi.

So what made Jason Runo decide to get into bee farming?

I only got into bee farming after trying to sell honey as a way to put food on the table. I run an entertainment business which was forced to close due to the pandemic. Before that, it was nowhere on my radar.


Did you do any training or apprenticeship before taking the lea
p?

Yes I did. But i did them after I had already made the leap


What is a typical day in Nyahururu?

The best thing about being in shags is that I fully decide what to do with my day. It’s a schedule-less life and I love it. Mostly, I wake up and think about what needs to be done then I get down to it. Funny thing is, there is always so much to be done.

You moved from Nairobi to Nyahururu, despite being raised in the city, how has the change been?

I was raised in the city but I spent a lot of time upcountry. For high school I went to Meru and Muranga. My late mom moved to Nyahururu about 10 years ago and I used to visit her very often (say monthly). Rural life is very nice and simple. A lot of the luxuries that we enjoy in the city like take out and Uber etc are missing of course. For me, the best part is being allowed a lot of time for self reflection and meditation. It’s nice and quiet something, we don’t really have in Nairobi…….Silence!

Tell us what you love most about your life right now?

I love my community so much. They have been very awesome and super supportive and can see why my mom loved it here so much. I am also rediscovering so much about myself.


BYSS was super successful, is their a chance of it ever coming back? 

For sure! I really want it to come back. With the growth came a lot of corporate pressure and other stress factors. I really missed the days when it was a small community. That is how I would like it to come back. I want to do it purely for the love of it. It will be now my side gig/hobby, something I will do to take my mind off my main job, beekeeping.


Any tips for entrepreneurs who would like to start beekeeping?

Start small. Don’t do it remotely (phone call farming). Love your bees and they will love you back.


And finally what should people keep in mind when buying local honey?

A lot of what people buy is actually not honey. There is a lot of adulterated honey in the market. This is because the demand for honey is high. Try to buy directly from a beekeeper and always remember honey varies in texture, colour, consistency depending on where its from.When you taste honey, you are literally tasting a place.

Jason is also working on building a children’s library in Nyahururu and book donations are welcome, feel free to drop some at Lava Latte, on State House Road. More info on his Instagram: @jasonruno

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