President William Ruto Orders Tata Chemicals Out of Kenya

President William Ruto ordered the Mumbai-based Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited to cease its soda-ash mining operations at Lake Magadi and leave the country. During a visit to the Kajiado region, Ruto told the company to "pack and go," arguing that the firm exported minerals to India and other locations without investing in local infrastructure. He criticized the company for failing to build factories in Kajiado despite holding a contract for 100 years, asking, "Are we slaves to other people?"

The expulsion follows a directive from the Ministry of Mining five weeks prior, which suspended operations at the Magadi Soda factory and halted all soda ash exports. That order was based on the company's failure to meet regulatory requirements and make royalty payments. Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku added that the company's mining rights had already expired in 2023.

The Kenyan government now intends to replace the firm with two new investors. These partners will be required to establish domestic processing facilities to produce glass and chemicals from the natural soda ash, a resource used in electric vehicle batteries and cleaning products. Governor Ole Lenku stated that any new licensees must build a "huge processing facility" within the region to ensure the resource benefits the local economy.