Showcasing Baringo’s Honey and Culture at 2026 FINAS Summit

Introduction: From Tiaty to the National Stage

Building on their learnings in 2025, cooperative leaders from Tiaty in Baringo County, Kenya, participated in the 2026 FINAS Summit, one of Kenya’s leading conferences for innovation, partnerships, and sustainable development. The summit provided an opportunity for rural producers to showcase products that tell the story of their communities while connecting with organizations, businesses, government institutions, and development partners from across the country. The FINAS Summit brings together stakeholders from the government, the private sector, development organizations, financial institutions, research institutions, and farmer organizations to explore innovative approaches that strengthen agriculture, enterprise development, and community resilience.

Taking Tiaty’s Best to a National Audience

Representing Kituduny Nuru Focus Cooperative, the cooperative’s youth chairperson proudly exhibited honey that had recently received Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) certification. Nearby, Stella, the Chairperson of Tiaty Women Cooperative, displayed the cooperative’s own KEBS-certified honey, sharing with visitors the journey that transformed their product from locally-traded honey into a certified brand ready for wider markets. Alongside the honey exhibition, another member of Tiaty Women Cooperative showcased beautifully handcrafted beadwork made by women artisans, giving delegates a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the community while highlighting how traditional skills continue to create economic opportunities for rural women.

For the three cooperative representatives from Tiaty, attending the summit was an opportunity to demonstrate that rural cooperatives are producing high-quality products capable of competing in formal markets. For generations, the people of Tiaty have relied on their natural environment and rich cultural heritage to sustain their livelihoods. The region’s vast acacia woodlands support the production of some of Kenya’s finest honey, while skilled women artisans continue to preserve traditional beadwork passed down through generations. Although these products reflect the resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of the community, they have often remained hidden from larger markets due to limited opportunities for exposure and market access.

A Journey That Began Long Before the Summit

The products displayed at the FINAS Summit represented months of dedication and collaboration. Earlier this year, after receiving support from Nuru Kenya throughout 2025, both Kituduny Cooperative and Tiaty Women Cooperative obtained KEBS certification for their honey products. To achieve certification, the cooperatives had to strengthen their management practices, improve packaging, develop compliant product labels, and ensure they were adhering to national food safety standards. Nuru Kenya’s support equipped the cooperatives to achieve the major milestone of securing certification, but gaining access to markets where those products could be recognized and appreciated was equally important. The FINAS Summit provided that opportunity. Throughout the exhibition, visitors stopped to learn about the unique characteristics of honey harvested from the acacia-rich landscapes of Tiaty, the work that goes into maintaining quality from hive to shelf, and the determination of local cooperatives to meet national standards.

KEBS-certified honey products displayed at the exhibition.

Celebrating Enterprise Beyond Honey

Many cooperative agribusinesses like Tiaty Women Cooperative have more than one revenue stream, ensuring that the cooperative is not fully reliant on one rural livelihood, particularly as climate change heavily impacts these communities. While honey attracted considerable interest from visitors, the colorful beadwork displayed by Tiaty Women Cooperative reminded delegates that enterprise development in Baringo extends beyond agriculture.
Every handcrafted necklace, bracelet, and ornament reflected generations of indigenous knowledge while demonstrating how women are transforming traditional craftsmanship into a source of income for their families. Visitors were drawn not only to the vibrant designs but also to the stories behind each piece. The exhibition created meaningful conversations about preserving culture while creating sustainable livelihoods, showing that tradition and enterprise can thrive side by side.
Representatives from Tiaty Women Cooperative displaying handcrafted beadwork to visitors.

Building Partnerships That Create Opportunity

The FINAS Summit also created valuable opportunities for networking and learning. Throughout the event, the cooperative leaders engaged with government officials, development partners, researchers, financial institutions, and private sector representatives who expressed interest in their products and shared ideas on expanding market opportunities.

These interactions gave the farmers greater confidence in presenting their enterprises while exposing them to new business opportunities that could strengthen their cooperatives in the future. The experience also reinforced the importance of investing in quality, branding, certification, and cooperative development as pathways toward sustainable enterprise growth.

Chairperson of Tiaty Women engaging a delegate during the 2026 FINAS Summit

Creating Lasting Impact

Nuru Kenya believes that strengthening rural livelihoods goes beyond increasing production. Sustainable transformation happens when farmers have access to quality training, certification, value addition, market opportunities, and platforms where they can confidently tell the stories behind their products. When rural entrepreneurs are equipped with the right knowledge, support, and opportunities, they can successfully compete in national markets while inspiring other communities to pursue similar pathways toward economic resilience.

The honey and beadwork showcased at the summit represented much more than products—they symbolized resilience, innovation, and the remarkable potential that exists within rural communities when local enterprises are given the opportunity to shine. As more cooperatives continue improving product quality, embracing value addition, and accessing formal markets, the future looks increasingly promising for producers across Tiaty.

Looking Ahead

The 2026 FINAS Summit is one more milestone in the growth of Tiaty’s cooperatives. As Nuru continues to support enterprise development, product certification, value addition, and market linkages, more farmers, beekeepers, and women entrepreneurs will have opportunities to showcase their products beyond their local communities.

From the acacia forests that produce premium honey to the skilled hands that create intricate beadwork, the people of Tiaty are proving that rural enterprises can compete on the national stage. Their participation at the FINAS Summit serves as a powerful reminder that investing in cooperatives is not only about improving incomes but also about preserving culture, building resilient businesses, and creating lasting opportunities for future generations.