A Historical Study of the Soapstone Industry among the Indigenous Tabaka Community in Kisii County, Kenya, 1900–1980
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68050/JAMS.2026.570Keywords:
Soapstone industry, Tabaka, indigenous community, Kisii County, historical study, artisanal mining, Kenya, 1900–1980.Abstract
The soapstone industry has long been an important economic and cultural activity among the indigenous Tabaka community in Kisii County, Kenya. Despite its historical significance, limited scholarly attention has been given to its development and transformation over time. This study examined the history of the soapstone industry among the indigenous Tabaka community between 1900 and 1980. The objectives were to trace the origins and historical development of the industry and to examine the historical factors that influenced its growth and transformation during the colonial and early post-independence periods. The study was guided by the Sustainable Livelihood Theory (SLT), which provided a framework for understanding how access to natural resources and local knowledge sustained community livelihoods over time. A qualitative case study design was adopted, utilizing oral interviews, focus group discussions, and archival document analysis. Purposive sampling was used to select 20 respondents comprising soapstone artisans, community elders, local leaders, and government officials with knowledge of the industry's history. Data were analyzed thematically through historical interpretation. The findings reveal that soapstone mining and carving existed long before colonial rule as an indigenous economic and cultural practice based on inherited skills and local knowledge. During the colonial period, government policies introduced taxation, commercialization, and external markets, resulting in significant changes in production, organization, and trade. Following Kenya's independence, the industry expanded through the establishment of artisan cooperatives and increased market access, reinforcing its importance as a source of livelihood and cultural identity. However, its historical development was constrained by inadequate institutional support, exploitation by middlemen, environmental degradation, and limited access to improved mining and carving technologies. The study concludes that the soapstone industry was a central feature of the historical development of the Tabaka community between 1900 and 1980, shaping its economic organization and preserving its indigenous cultural heritage. It recommends strengthening historical preservation initiatives, supporting community-based cooperatives, promoting sustainable resource management, and integrating the history of the Tabaka soapstone industry into Kenya's cultural heritage and development policies.
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