The hive commonly referred to as the Kenyan top-bar hive was developed by Dr. Maurice V. Smith and Dr. Gordon Townsend from the University of Guelph in Canada, sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) under an initial four year overseas project which began in Kenya in 1971.
 The hive and its development was subsequently and extensively described by Dr. Isaac Kirea Kigatiira from Kenya, who was a student at Guelph in the early 1970s.

Although the hive's management differs strongly from the tub shaped Greek hive, early publications about the Kenyan hive often mention the Greek hive as an inspiration for the Kenyan hive.

The original Kenyan hive was designed to hang from trees or poles.
Other modern variations of this hive, such as the Jackson hive used in South Africa, are also intended as hanging hives.
 Hanging the hive some distance from the ground protects it from both wild and domestic animals, as well as from ants and beetles.

A version with straight sides was developed by Henry Mulzac by 1977, which used Langstroth compatible dimensions.
 The South African Jackson hive also uses Langstroth sized frames.
The hive commonly referred to as the Kenyan top-bar hive was developed by Dr. Maurice V. Smith and Dr. Gordon Townsend from the University of Guelph in Canada, sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) under an initial four year overseas project which began in Kenya in 1971.  The hive and its development was subsequently and extensively described by Dr. Isaac Kirea Kigatiira from Kenya, who was a student at Guelph in the early 1970s.
Although the hive's management differs strongly from the tub shaped Greek hive, early publications about the Kenyan hive often mention the Greek hive as an inspiration for the Kenyan hive.
The original Kenyan hive was designed to hang from trees or poles. Other modern variations of this hive, such as the Jackson hive used in South Africa, are also intended as hanging hives.  Hanging the hive some distance from the ground protects it from both wild and domestic animals, as well as from ants and beetles.
A version with straight sides was developed by Henry Mulzac by 1977, which used Langstroth compatible dimensions.  The South African Jackson hive also uses Langstroth sized frames.
Horizontal top-bar hive