Resources And Economic Activities Notes, Quizzes & Revision
π Revision Notes β’ π Quizzes β’ π Past Papers available in app
Resources and Economic Activities
Topic: topic_name_replace β’ Subject: subject_replace β’ Target age: age_replace
What are resources?
Resources are things people use to meet their needs. They can be natural (found in nature), human (skills, labour) or capital (tools, factories, money). In Kenya, resources are used for food, shelter, income and services.
Types of resources (with Kenyan examples)
- Natural resources β land, water, forests, minerals, wildlife.
πΎ Agriculture: Rift Valley and Central highlands (maize, tea, coffee).
π Fishing: Lake Victoria (tilapia, Nile perch) and the Indian Ocean coast.
π² Forests: Mau and Kakamega (timber, water catchment).
βοΈ Minerals and oil: small-scale mining (soda ash at Lake Magadi, gemstones, recent oil discoveries in Turkana). - Human resources β workers, skills, traditional knowledge.
Examples: small-scale farmers, fisherfolk, teachers, engineers, hospitality workers in Mombasa and national parks.
- Capital resources β tools, machines, roads, ports, money.
Examples: tractors, tea factories in Kericho, Mombasa port, Nairobiβs business district, irrigation systems (e.g., in Tana River and Mwea).
Economic activities β main groups and Kenyan examples
- Primary activities β extract resources directly from nature.
Farming (maize, tea, coffee), pastoralism (north and arid areas: Turkana, Samburu), fishing (Lake Victoria, Indian Ocean), forestry, mining.
- Secondary activities β processing and manufacturing.
Tea processing in Kericho, sugar factories in Western Kenya, food processing and light manufacturing in Nairobi and industrial towns.
- Tertiary activities β services.
Retail, transport (trucking, rail, Mombasa port), tourism (safari guides, hotels in Maasai Mara, Amboseli), banking and ICT (Nairobi).
- Quaternary/Knowledge services β research, information, education, ICT.
Research on agriculture (KALRO), universities, tech companies and mobile banking (M-Pesa) based in urban centres.
Quick visual: where activities happen in Kenya
πΎ
Highlands (Rift Valley, Central)
Crop farming, dairy, tea, coffee
π
Lake Victoria & Coast
Fishing, ports (Mombasa), tourism at the coast
π
Arid & Semi-arid Lands
Pastoralism, drought-prone livelihoods
π’
Urban (Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu)
Services, manufacturing, ICT, trade
Factors that influence where and how activities happen
- Climate: rainfall supports farming in highlands; arid areas suit pastoralism.
- Soil and land: fertile soils in Rift Valley favour crops; sugarcane in Western lowlands.
- Water sources: rivers and lakes allow irrigation and fishing (e.g., Tana River, Lake Victoria).
- Transport and infrastructure: roads, rail and ports determine access to markets (Mombasa port is vital).
- Technology and skills: mechanisation, irrigation, mobile money and education affect productivity.
- Markets and demand: local consumption and export markets (tea, coffee, horticulture) shape production.
- Government policies: land use plans, subsidies, conservation laws and trade rules change activities.
Why resources and economic activities matter
They provide:
- Food and raw materials (for homes and industries)
- Jobs and income for households across Kenya
- Exports and foreign exchange (tea, coffee, horticulture, tourism)
- Services and infrastructure that improve quality of life (schools, hospitals, roads)
Sustainable use and challenges
To ensure resources last and communities thrive, Kenya faces several tasks:
- Conserve water and forests β protect water towers (e.g., Mau), plant trees, manage catchments.
- Improve land use β stop soil erosion and land degradation through terracing and cover crops.
- Support pastoralists β water points, grazing management, and conflict prevention in arid areas.
- Promote value addition β process agricultural products locally so communities benefit.
- Responsible mining and fishing β regulate extraction to avoid depletion and pollution.
- Use technology β irrigation, drought-resistant seeds, mobile services for markets and finance.
Short Kenya-focused examples
Tea in Kericho β ideal climate and skilled labour mean tea is grown, processed locally and exported. Value addition at factories raises incomes.
Fishing on Lake Victoria β supports many lakeshore communities but needs good regulation to avoid overfishing and pollution.
Tourism in Maasai Mara β natural wildlife is a resource that brings jobs to guides, hotels and craftspeople; conservation ensures the resource remains.
Key terms (quick glossary)
- Resource β anything used to satisfy human needs.
- Primary activity β getting resources directly from nature.
- Secondary activity β processing raw materials into goods.
- Tertiary activity β services that support people and businesses.
- Sustainable use β using resources so they last for future generations.
Short revision questions
- Give two examples of natural resources found in your region of Kenya.
- Explain one way that farmers add value to crops before selling them.
- Why is Mombasa port important for Kenyaβs economy?
- List two practices that help conserve water and forests.