Kinshasa, September 3rd, 2026 (CPA).- The Kenyan president has ordered on Thursday to an Indian company, Tata Chemicals, to leave his country, escalating a dispute involving one of Kenya’s largest mineral exporters and Africa’s largest producer of soda ash, the international media have reported.
“Tata Chemicals Magadi has had a contract for 100 years, and they have done nothing. I have told them the other day to pack their bags and leave,” has declared William Ruto, the Kenyan president. The presidential announcement follows the government’s suspension on July 28th of Tata Chemicals Magadi’s mining operations, for alleged non-compliance with Kenyan mining laws. The Secretary to the Cabinet for Mining, Hassan Joho, has affirmed at the time that operations would remain suspended until the company fulfills its legal obligations. Furthermore, President Ruto has clarified that his government has identified new investors to take over operations, arguing that Kenya should derive greater economic benefits from its mineral resources.
“We have said we were going to bring in new companies. I’ve already sent them away,” he has said. William Ruto has also announced that two new companies will be brought on board, as the government seeks to boost investment, local processing and employment for Kenyans. Tata Chemicals Magadi is part of the Tata Group in India and operates at Lake Magadi, some 120 kilometres (75 miles) south-west of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. The company produces more than 350,000 tons of caustic soda each year, exporting to markets such as India, South-East Asia, the Middle East and other parts of Africa. For its part, the Indian company has assured last month that it had submitted all the documents requested by the Kenyan authorities and maintained that it had demonstrated compliance with regulatory requirements.
It has indicated that the suspension affected around 500 employees, as well as contractors, suppliers and surrounding communities. The company’s history at Lake Magadi dates back to 1911, whilst a major mining lease with the Kenyan government has been in place since 1928. Tata Chemicals has acquired the operation in 2005 through its takeover of the Brunner Mond Group in the UK, it is reminded. ACP/