Tabaka Soapstone
The country has two mining potentials – soapstone and granite. Soapstone mining has enormous potential for development in the manufacture of tiles and paint.
Granite is an important component in the processing of tiles, which remains unexplained. The small market for these minerals and unorganized marketing channels are inhibiting their full exploitation.
The mining of Tabaka soapstone in Kisii County is an important economic activity because it provides over 7,000 people with incomes and constitutes about 40 per cent of the total national handicraft export.
This minerals is mainly used in the making of cravings that are sold in the local and international market. Due to its potential in income and employment generation , traders need to be encouraged to inform cooperative societies to assist them in marketing the artworks to protect them from exploitation by middlemen.
This calls for investment in modern mining tools ,production of quality cravings for direct export, construction of tourists hotels as the site acts as a tourist destination and establishment of a soapstone factory.
Balast Production
The construction industry in Kisii Town and it’s environs is growing fast with the availability of viable quarry sites such as Nyataro . But the opportunities are not being fully exploited mainly because of lack of modern equipment.
Upon exhaustion, the land can be reclaimed to be used for agriculture. The youth currently engaged in the industry cab be trained in masonry and other technical skills to upgrade their competence and lift their standards of living.