After about a century of mining rights, Tata Chemicals is being told to leave Kenya. The Indian company took soda ash out of the country without doing enough to turn the resource into finished products locally, President William Ruto said Thursday. Tata Chemicals rejected the suggestions in a statement.
Ruto Calls for New Investors in Kajiado Mining Operations
During a recent visit to Magadi in southern Kenya, President William Ruto announced plans to seek new investors to assume control of mining operations currently held by Tata, a Mumbai-based company. Ruto criticized Tata for its lack of progress, stating, “Tata has held mining rights for 100 years yet it has not built anything in Kajiado. They take our resource to India and other places.” He emphasized his determination to change the situation, declaring, “Come what may, because they have been unable to do what is required, I have told them to pack and go.”
Lenku also said the mining rights expired in 2023. Kenya has been producing soda ash since 1911. Tata Chemicals bought the Magadi operation from Brunner Mond Ltd. in 2005. Earlier reporting noted: Kenya’s President orders Tata Chemicals to end operations in the country Kenya’s President William Ruto said on Thursday (September 3, 2026) he had ordered India’s Tata Chemicals to stop its operations in Kenya, saying its presence had failed to benefit the country. Earlier reporting noted: “That TATA company … had that contract for 100 years.
One would process the mineral into glass and another would make chemicals in Kajiado, Bloomberg reported.
He said the government planned to bring in two new companies. In another statement, Tata said its Kenyan unit provided a “comprehensive” response to the issues raised by the ministry and was waiting for the government to review its submissions. “TCML has provided a comprehensive response to the matters raised by the Ministry, including information regarding its compliance with applicable regulatory requirements,” Tata Chemicals said. Mining cabinet secretary Hassan Joho said Tata’s Kenyan unit must provide documents showing that it met its statutory obligations and settled outstanding liabilities before it could resume production. Ruto said the government would bring in two new companies to take over operations for Tata Chemicals. In late July, Tata had said Kenya’s government had ordered its unit Tata Chemical Limited to suspend its operations at the Magadi Soda factory and suspended any exports of soda ash. Ruto said during a visit to the region in southern Kenya.
“We await the ministry’s review of our submissions and its further direction. They have not built anything in Kajiado; they have not built any factory in Kajiado,” Mr.
Earlier reporting noted: Mr.
