Kenyan President William Ruto has ordered the Indian company Tata Chemicals to leave the country, stating that the firm has failed to generate sufficient economic impact within a key Kenyan export sector. The directive was issued Thursday during a public rally.
Tata Chemicals, which has operated in Kenya since 2005, produces soda ash from Lake Magadi. This mineral is a component in the manufacturing of glass, soaps, and detergents. Government data indicates that Kenya's soda ash exports reached 254,779 tons, valued at $56.9 million, in the year leading up to July 2025.
Ruto expressed that while soda ash from Lake Magadi has the potential to benefit Kenya, Tata Chemicals has not contributed to the development of Kajiado county, where the lake is located. "They have not built anything in Kajiado," Ruto stated. "They have not built any factory or employed people."
He further asserted that the company has been exporting resources to India and that a new investor will be brought in with the condition of establishing a local glass factory. "I told them to pack and leave. They have been taking our resources and shipping them to India. We will bring a new company and the condition set is they must build a glass factory here," the president said.
In July, Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited's operations were suspended by Kenya's ministry of mining, pending a review of its compliance. The company, in a communication to the National Stock Exchange of India on Friday, stated that it is fully compliant in Kenya and is awaiting further communication from the Kenyan government regarding the review. Tata Chemicals added that it remains committed to constructive engagement.
Commercial production of soda ash from trona, a naturally occurring mineral found in Lake Magadi, began on a large scale in 1911. The potential departure of Tata Chemicals could lead to job losses and a significant reduction in revenue for the region.