What is Soapstone?

Soapstone contains talc, which gives it its signature softness; when touched in raw form, it leaves behind a white powder. Many industries use soapstone such as paper, plastic, and paint industries. During this field visit, I focused mainly on the crafting industry. According to the Kenya Geological Survey (2008), about 22 billion tons of soapstone are in the Kisii Hills.

The indigenous geologists and miners used simple tools, such as hammers, hand saws, pangas (machetes), and chisels, to extract the stone, which artisans then carved, shaped, and polished into various forms.

This photo shows a soapstone mining site tucked into the middle of a planted forest. You can see where the land has been dug out and how the surrounding vegetation remains intact. Most of these mines are on family land inherited through generations, so there aren't formal policies for land rehabilitation — and that's expected. The mining here is small-scale, done by hand, and doesn't cause significant destruction.

Still, it's a reminder of how closely the environment and local livelihoods are connected. The same land that provides stone also grows their food. Mining and farming aren't treated as separate industries here; in Tabaka, they coexist seasonally and spatially, depending on rainfall, demand, and daily survival. It's not just resource extraction; it's living with the land.

So, Nyasaina, is this sustainable?

 Witnessing the entire production process was fascinating. From mining the raw stone to shaping, carving, sanding, and polishing the final pieces. The artisans generously shared how the community-run supply chain sustains income at different stages. After extraction, the stone is sold to artists by size. They wash and sand the stone to remove the white powder, making it easier to paint. This photo shows Kisii women cleaning soapstone bowls in preparation for the next stage of production.

The designs vary from abstract shapes and animals to chess sets and cultural artifacts, each reflecting the artisan's creativity. Many of these carvers are also subsistence farmers. Their work preserves heritage and is a source of income.

The Economic Reality

Economically, soapstone mining is not a protected or supported industry, although it has much profit potential. Although Tabaka is rich in soapstone and talent, the economic benefits are yet to match the activity level or cultural value.  There is no investment in the development of the craft, such as limited safety working equipment, and there is no formal artisan training or marketing. This has reduced production, limited scalability, and increased the likelihood of worker injuries. While the artisans do most of the work, the low output and limited marketing have led to low income. What surprised me most was that many artisans don't know how to price their products fairly or grow their operations. They often rely on local buyers, which limits economic opportunities. Simple interventions — like business training, fair pricing education, and support in branding — could change that.

So What Can We Do?

Soapstone mining remains undervalued, unlike cash crops, but we can change that.

We can support Indigenous artisans by offering formal business education and creating long-lasting, community-led impact. We can organize local business workshops that bring trainers directly to the community and focus on fair pricing, pitching, record-keeping, and branding. To ensure language accessibility, these workshops must be facilitated in Kisii or Kiswahili.

This program can also introduce digital tools and e-commerce training to help artists market their work online. Through the African Youth Advisory, we also recommend intergenerational collaboration: bringing together artisans and landowners with business students at Kisii Universities to co-create business plans, packaging ideas, and marketing strategies.

This would be a powerful community development project, a perfect blend of modern and traditional education. A true gamechanger.