Kenya's Natural Resources: Facts About Kenya's Abundant Natural Resources

Christian Mba
Oct 26, 2023 By Christian Mba
Originally Published on Nov 22, 2021
Know facts about Kenya's natural resources, wildlife, environment conservation, forests, population density, and socio-economic development.

Kenya is known for its rich biodiversity and stunning views.

Discovering oil, enormous water springs, gas, and coal became major supporting factors in helping Kenya with its socio-economic development. It is also increasingly gaining popularity among travelers and tourists.

Kenya, officially called the Republic of Kenya, is a country in Eastern Africa and the world's 48th biggest country by area. Home to more than 47.6 million individuals, Kenya is the 29th most populated country. Its capital is Nairobi, also the country's biggest city. The country's climatic condition shifts from tropical along the coast to bone-dry or arid.

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Natural Resources In Kenya And Their Benefits

Kenya is blessed with plenty of natural resources, wildlife, biodiversity, land, and a remarkable ecosystem.

These assets easily affect the country through income, generation of revenue, and capital inflows. In the past few years, the discovery of numerous oil deposits, gas, and other rare and valuable minerals has really put Kenya on the world's economic map.

Natural resources and minerals found abundantly in Kenya include zinc, soda ash, salt, limestone, gemstones, gypsum, fluorspar, diatomite, hydropower, petrol, hydropower, and different resources that have great commercial significance, like rare earth elements.

In 2010, Kenya's portion of the world's soda ash production added up to 4%. Concrete, fluorspar, and petroleum/oil refining were the other mining and mineral handling exercises attempted. Future creation of fluorspar and gemstones will rely incredibly upon world economic situations.

How are the resources used?

Most of Kenya's natural resources come from its forests which are slowly depleting. They are famous for their coffee and tea plantations, and their prestigious scenery, and rich biodiversity.

The vast majority of forest reserves are shrubbery, bamboo, and grass. The remaining softwoods presently support a domestic paper industry. Kenya has chopped down quite a bit of its woodlands to help support the industrial sector.

Horticulture has a significant influence on the Kenyan economy. Kenyan horticulture is mostly covered by tea, tobacco, and coffee businesses. This East African country holds titanium, gold, and coal deposits and also contains critical copper, niobium, and manganese, just like oil and gas reserves.

Limestone deposits at the coast and inland are taken advantage of for concrete production and horticulture. Gold, vermiculite, rubies, topazes, and salt are very important. Fluorite, otherwise called fluorspar, is also very important and is utilized in metallurgy. It is mined along the Kerio River in the north.

Are the natural resources on the brink of extinction?

Major environmental and conservation issues in this country are paving the way for new ideas concerning the climate and preservation of its natural resources.

About 11% of Kenya's territory as of now is under the conservancy board, and with USAID's help, Kenya's conservancies are predicted to develop to 20% by 2030.

A significant issue is water contamination that stems from the careless disposal of urban and industrial wastes. This could be fixed with better water, irrigation system, and sewage frameworks.

Deforestation is additionally another major challenge and issue. The advancement of the Kenyan countryside and excessive trade of resources are the principal factors in the deforestation issue. It is believed that Kenya will be a wonderful and prosperous place for a long time to come if the locals and tourists are kind to the environment.

What drives Kenya's economy?

Kenya is the third-biggest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa after Nigeria and South Africa.

Kenya is lined by South Sudan toward the northwest, Ethiopia towards the north, Somalia towards the east, Uganda towards the west, Tanzania towards the south, and the Indian Ocean towards the southeast.

The livelihoods of Kenyans rely upon natural resources and the travel industry. However, climate change, wildlife crime, and excessive use of natural resources have begun to strip them of the fulfilment of their daily needs.

Kenya is the most mechanically and industrially developed country in East Africa, yet it has not yet delivered results to match its potential. As it depends to a great extent on handling imported merchandise, the public authority upholds the improvement of commodity arranged enterprises.

They manage production of materials and apparel, concrete, tires, batteries, paper, pottery, and cowhide merchandise. Gathering plants, which use imported parts, produce different business and traveler vehicles and even produce a small amount for other African countries like Uganda.

Kenya is home to the absolute most extraordinary and most fascinating types of wild animals. Along these lines, the travel industry is one of the nation's main sources of income, with tourists visiting Kenya to go on safari.

Tourism rotates around an essential structure of national parks and different kinds of reserves and sanctuaries where visitors get to enjoy a wide variety of animals and cultural attractions.

Kenya has lots of unique and different species that are appreciated all through the world. Unfortunately, hunters still poach giraffes, rhinos, and elephants. While various conservation laws and enactments have been passed to attempt to end poaching, the laws are difficult to uphold and poaching proceeds. USAID is working intimately with the Kenya Wildlife Service to battle wildlife crime.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Kenya's natural resources: facts about Kenya's abundant natural resources, then why not take a look at the most dangerous animal in Africa, or are there tigers in Africa?

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Written by Christian Mba

Bachelor of Science specializing in Computer Science

Christian Mba picture

Christian MbaBachelor of Science specializing in Computer Science

Christian Mba is an experienced blogger and content writer with over a decade of experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Nigeria and has a keen interest in Python programming. Along with his writing and blogging expertise, he is also an SEO specialist with more than six years of experience. Chris, as he is commonly known, has a passion for music and enjoys playing the piano.

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