May 3, 2026 - Kenya’s fluorite story begins with a familiar rhythm many Kenyans learned early in school, a rhythm that still echoes through classrooms and communities today. From that shared memory has grown a modern industrial effort that connects heritage, industry, and ambition.

At the centre of that effort is SOFAX Fluorspar, a company working to restore large-scale fluorspar operations in the Kerio Valley while shaping a long-term industrial future for Kenya. John Masanda, Director of SOFAX Fluorspar, brings both local roots and global experience to that mission.

“Growing up in Kenya and going through the Kenyan education system, there are three natural resources that were almost like a nursery rhyme,” Masanda says. “Soda ash in Magadi, diatomite in Kiriandusi, and fluorspar in Kerio Valley.”

That early familiarity, paired with decades in global commodity trading, shaped his decision to lead the revival of the Kerio Valley fluorspar project. “I had access to global markets, and I was Kenyan-grounded with a strong local network,” Masanda says. “All those ingredients came together at the right time.”

The company’s current focus is on project development and operational readiness. SOFAX Fluorspar is rehabilitating 12 mining pits and restoring a processing plant designed to deliver 97 percent acid-grade fluorspar for international markets.

“We are reviving the mines, rehabilitating the pits, and putting proper benching in place,” Masanda says. “Safety is a top priority, and the mining plan must be right before commercial-scale operations begin.” Alongside mining, the company is refurbishing its processing facility, which converts raw ore into a high-purity product ready for global markets. “What we mine is between 30 and 50 percent grade,” Masanda says. “What we process and sell is about 97 percent, which the market calls acid grade.”

Logistics form another pillar of the project and long-term execution strategy. With coordinated support across road, rail, and port infrastructure, SOFAX Fluorspar is preparing a reliable route to international customers.

“The road sections are being repaired, the rail has been addressed, and at the port, we are finalising a dedicated berth for stockpiling and loading,” Masanda says. He describes the company’s relationship with government stakeholders as a strategic partnership that reflects the national importance of fluorspar.

Partnerships support efficient delivery. SOFAX Fluorspar works with specialised contractors such as Mistech Group on a turnkey basis for plant refurbishment. “They are highly specialised, and that shortens our project timelines,” Masanda says. He adds that local content remains central. “Employment and sourcing within Kenya come first, in line with our concession agreement and national policy,” Masanda says.

This revival also represents a broader shift in how extractive projects are structured and governed in Kenya. Operating under the Mining Act of 2016, SOFAX Fluorspar works within a clear regulatory framework that defines responsibilities to national authorities, county leadership, environmental bodies, and surrounding communities. Masanda emphasises that clarity has strengthened execution. “The Mining Act of 2016 is a progressive instrument, and it clearly defines what is expected of license holders and stakeholders,” he says.

With a 25-year mining license secured, the project has the tenure required for long-term capital planning, operational discipline, and sustained contribution to Kenya’s industrial growth.

Community and environmental programmes are embedded into operations through structured long-term initiatives. The concession covers about 9,000 acres, creating space for long-term initiatives in reforestation and agriculture. “We are hosting nurseries for tree planting and cash crop seedlings like coffee and avocado,” Masanda says. Mine rehabilitation includes tree planting after resource exhaustion, alongside support for carbon credit participation aligned with national goals. “Forestation is part of our license and part of our responsibility,” Masanda says.

Value addition defines the company’s longer-term vision. Masanda points to the leap from raw ore valued at around 50 dollars per ton to fluorochemical products used in electric vehicle batteries valued up to 25,000 dollars per ton. “Fluorspar sits at the centre of the electrolyte used in EV batteries,” Masanda says. “Kenya has a unique position in the region, with access to complementary minerals and growing e-mobility demand.”

By 2030, SOFAX Fluorspar aims to position Kenya as a regional hub for fluorochemicals and EV battery components. “The vision is to see the company and the country at the centre of e-mobility manufacturing, driving industrial growth, technology transfer, skilled employment, and regional export leadership,” Masanda says.