http://repository.mut.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2934 2026-04-07T13:12:19Z 2026-04-07T13:12:19Z Njoroge, Joseph M. Akama, J. Buyeke, L. http://repository.mut.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1975 2024-02-17T11:08:02Z 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z

The ‘romance’ of mining in light of tourism: A case study of soapstone in Tabaka, Kisii County, Kenya Njoroge, Joseph M.; Akama, J.; Buyeke, L. Mineral products are at the core of today’s civilized world that we live in. The manufacturing sector, the high technology industries and even the resource industries are all dependent, in one way or the other on the mining industry. According to geological surveys there is approximately 22 billion tons of soapstone in the Kisii Hills (Kenya Geological Survey, 2008). Mining the stone is all done by hand with hammers, picks and chisels. The stones are made into the approximate shapes with machetes, axes and handsaws. The stones are then carried by manpower out of the mines. Different mines have different colours and densities of stones. The carver will often go down into the mine himself to find what he needs. In order to achieve national and industrial development, any country including Kenya requires processing their minerals. In the past century, Kenya has become renowned for its soapstone (called Kisii stone in Africa) carvers (http://www.kisii soapstone/kisiisoapstones/kisiionline.com). Soapstone carving didn't catch on in Kenya until the 1940s, after Indian labourers arrived to build the railroad from the Kenyan coast to Uganda (Mong’are, 2006). Soapstone is actually a variety of talc, a soft mineral of a soapy feel and a greenish, whitish, or greyish colour, usually occurring in foliated masses. It is a hydrous silicate of magnesia and forms by alteration of these magnesium-rich rocks and minerals at low temperatures and high pressure. Rocks consisting mainly of talc are known as steatite or soapstone, and are soft enough to carve into various shapes. In fact, soapstone is the softest mineral on the Mohs hardness scale (soapstone being a 1, or the softest and 10 being the hardest, i.e. diamond). Kisii stone typically exhibits coloration ranging from creamy white to yellow to red to dark grey, depending on the mineral(s) present in the stone. The soapstone in Kisii stone is only available in the Tabaka Hills of Western Kenya and the stone is carved by the community. The stone is mined using hoes, picks, axes, shovels, iron rods and pangas (which are large knives used to chop the stone into smaller pieces). Most of the carvers are not professional carvers, but are actually subsistence farmers who carve mainly in the evening and in the dry season. Soapstone has created some of the most beautiful images in the world. These images have been continuously sold to the local communities sometimes at a very low price. Although some of the Kenyan arts including the chiondo, kikoi and other carvings are instant tourism attraction, this same has not been said of the soapstone mines in Kisii. This study was therefore designed to explore the unexpected the ‘romance’ of soapstone mining and tourism in Kisii, Kenya.

2015-01-01T00:00:00Z Njoroge, Joseph M. Buyeke, E. Akama, J. http://repository.mut.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1974 2024-02-17T11:08:01Z 2015-05-01T00:00:00Z

Challenges to sustainable sports tourism development in a non-metropolitan region in Kenya: A case of Iten township Njoroge, Joseph M.; Buyeke, E.; Akama, J. Sports related Travel traced to 776 BC Olympics (Baker 1982; Davies 1997 and De knop 1999). According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (2010), tourism has been one of the major contributors to the global economy and employment. In 2008 World Travel and Tourism contributed to approximately USD 5,890 billion and a 9.9% Gross Domestic Product which is expected to rise to 10.5% in 2018 (UNWTO, 2008). One important form of tourism contributing to this growth is sports tourism. Recently the conference on sports tourism convened by the UNWTO acknowledged the contribution of sports related travel and tourism estimated at USD 600 billion (www.worldsportsdestinationexpo.com). A more important role that tourism plays is its contribution towards GDP in most developing economies. UNWTO estimates that tourism accounts for about 45% of tourism exports among least developing countries (UNWTO, 2010). In Kenya, tourism is a key economic sector and a major contributor to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (12.6%) and represents 14.7% of foreign exchange earnings (Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis, 2009). A large part of Kenya’s tourism product revolves around Safari tours as Kenya boosts for its great National Parks and Game Safaris. Among the least exploited is sports tourism, despite its great potential. Similarly, the sports sector has a major economic impact to Kenya’s economy, contributing to both the economy and providing employment to hundreds of Kenyans. Moreover, sports, and professional runners especially, occupy a central place in Kenya’s culture and identity based on their achievements in medium and long distance running. It is therefore not surprising that both active and aspiring athletics are now trooping Kenya to train with the ‘‘champions’’. Historically, sports in Kenya have experienced major setbacks due to poor management of clubs and sporting associations, including local football. However, other better managed sports have continued to flourish both locally and abroad, in athletics especially.

2015-05-01T00:00:00Z