Kenya’s president orders Tata Chemicals to end operations in the country

Kenya's President William Ruto announced on Thursday that he has directed Tata Chemicals to cease its operations in Kenya, claiming that their presence has not benefited the nation. Ruto stated that his government would replace Tata Chemicals with two new companies to continue operations in the country.

In July, Tata Chemicals had reported that the Kenyan government had ordered the suspension of their operations at the Magadi Soda factory and halted any exports of soda ash. Tata Chemicals responded to the situation on Thursday by expressing respect for Kenya's government and commitment to "constructive engagement through the appropriate legal and regulatory channels to resolve the outstanding matters."

The company claimed to have provided a comprehensive response to the concerns raised by the ministry, including data on their compliance with regulatory obligations.

Magadi, a township in southern Kenya's Kajiado County, is where Ruto was on a visit earlier in the day. During his visit, Ruto remarked, "That TATA company … had that contract for 100 years. They have not built anything in Kajiado, they have not built any factory in Kajiado." He added, "We have said we will bring a new company and ... they should put a big glass company here in Kajiado. And another company to make chemicals here in Kajiado. Are we slaves to other people?"

Tata Chemicals emphasized that their primary concern remains the welfare of their employees, the Magadi community, their stakeholders in Kenya, and the ongoing economic growth of the country.