Kenya has limited mineral resources, although Kenyans have been resourceful in their use. Alkaline deposits from hot springs are mined for soda ash (the soda ash is then used in glass-making); other minerals mined are fluorspar, gold, limestone, rubies, salt, and vermiculite. Building stone is processed from the volcanic lava common to most of Kenya. Limestone deposits along the coast are utilized for the manufacture of cement. Limited coal production supports small steel mills.

Mining is represented by the fluorite beds north of Nairobi, extraction of soda and salt from natural deposits at Lake Magadi, gold mines at Kakamega, and lead and silver mines at Kinangoni. In Kilifi there is a plant for mineral processing. A large part of the 100,000 tons of soda extracted each year is assigned for export. However, as a whole, contribution of mining to Kenya's GDP is minimal.