In recent years, soap production sector has witnessed a significant shift, as more Kenyan households embrace the art of soap making.
What was once a highly specialised, large-scale process has gradually infiltrated local kitchens, with many opting for homemade, small-batch crafted soaps, some made from natural ingredients.
This surge in DIY soap production is gradually affecting the consumption of manufactured detergents.
Data from the latest Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that in the past five years, consumption of manufactured soaps has dropped by 20 percent, while production has reduced by three percent. In 2019, Kenyans used 184,510 tonnes of manufactured soap but the figure dropped to 146,790 tonnes two years ago.
Jane Njeri, who lives in Kiambu County is among those who make her own soap. When we visit on a Saturday morning, there is a pot bubbling in her kitchen. She then pours the mixture of butter, coconut oil, and olive oil, amongst other ingredients into moulds.
“I started making soap out of necessity,” she says, adding that people are becoming more conscious of what they use on their skins, hence the shift to natural ingredients such as aloe vera and neem which she uses in her soaps.
When she started making soap in 2020, she could only sell eight to 10 bars monthly.
“Now I sell an average of 200 bars. I never knew I would make money from this business,” she says.
What's driving the trend?
Part of what is also driving the soap cottage is an influx of distributors of raw materials. One is Paul Ng’ang’a. He says a few years ago, their primary customers were industrial manufacturers.
“However, I am currently seeing a different clientele from small business owners to hobbyists buying in bulk,” he says, “the demand for raw resources like colourants, lye, and essential oils has increased three times.”
He says there are periods when he runs out of caustic soda due to high demand.
“I get my supplies from a chemical dealer along Enterprise Road, Nairobi. Most of these ingredients such as caustic soda are imported, but some are produced locally as well,” he says.
The shift to homemade soap is also being fueled by health concerns and trimming of household budgets. Elizabeth Waiyego, a resident of Kamulu, started making her own soap a year ago because she has sensitive skin.
“The commercial soaps often irritated,” she says.
She also talks of saving. Tight budgets have seen households seek cheaper alternatives. Some are making from toilet cleaners to bleach, saving upto Sh4,000 a month.
For, Ms Waiyego, it is a Sh200 saving per month, but she says the homemade neem soap is easier on her skin.
Is it safe?
However, is it safe to make your own soap?
Esther Ngari, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) MD says that although it is not illegal to make soap for personal use, the soap should be tested to ensure it meets quality and safety standards.
She warns that health hazards may arise from incorrect formulations, such as skin irritation, bacterial contamination leading to infections when used on the skin, chemical burns, or allergic reactions due to uncontrolled pH and alkali levels.
Additionally, improper handling of raw materials can also lead to toxic exposure, respiratory issues, or accidental ingestion, especially in homes with children.
“Also, the lack of microbial control can result in contaminated soap, increasing the risk of skin infections and hygiene-related illnesses,” she says.
And if the soap is intended for sale or distribution, it should undergo the product certification process and assessment, where Kebs inspects the facility, collects samples, and ensures the necessary supervision measures are in place.
Lastly, the samples must undergo testing for compliance and be issued a standardisation mark permit, which many handmade soaps do not have.
