Gachagua: Let Maa Community Decide Who Takes Over Magadi
He said the concerns surrounding the long-running operations of the soda ash producer should instead be addressed through public participation and consultation with the Maasai community.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has criticized President William Ruto's administration for seeking control of Magadi due to the presence of potential mineral, oil, and gas deposits. Gachagua argued that the government was using the dispute with Tata Chemicals as a pretext to take control of the area, as lithium and oil were discovered in the region. He called for public participation and consultation with the Maasai community to address the concerns surrounding Tata Chemicals' long-running operations.
Gachagua's remarks come as the controversy surrounding Tata Chemicals' operations at Lake Magadi escalates, following President Ruto's decision to have the Indian-owned company leave the area. Ruto defended the move, stating that Tata Chemicals had operated in Magadi for over a century without generating sufficient local industrial development and jobs. He insisted that a new investor would be required to establish glass and chemical manufacturing facilities in Kajiado.
Gachagua warned that the government's handling of the situation could undermine investor confidence and urged the administration to engage the local community and Tata Chemicals before making significant changes to an operation central to the local economy. He expressed concerns over the impact of the shutdown on residents who rely on Tata Chemicals for water and healthcare services.
The government suspended Tata Chemicals' operations in July due to compliance issues under the Mining Act, but the company claims it submitted the requested documentation and was compliant with regulatory requirements. Gachagua further challenged the government's position on land ownership, stating that the Magadi operation's land belongs to the community, not the government or President Ruto.
The dispute has exposed differing views within the Magadi community, with some residents supporting the government's actions and others voicing concerns over job losses and the disruption of essential services. Gachagua compared the government's approach to former Ugandan President Idi Amin's expulsion of Asian traders, arguing that such actions could damage the economy. He emphasized that investors would be discouraged if long-standing operations could be shut down without proper consultation.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
