Politics
Kenya’s government has ordered India’s major chemical company, Tata Chemicals, to leave the country, telling the company to “pack up its belongings and leave.”
Kenya’s government has ordered India’s major chemical company, Tata Chemicals, to leave the country, telling the company to “pack up its belongings and leave.” The Kenyan government says the company has failed to play the required role in promoting local industry and creating jobs. According to Kenyan President William Ruto, the company was exporting soda ash instead of processing it locally to manufacture glass and other chemicals.
President Ruto said the government has already found new investors to replace the company. According to him, this will create more job opportunities in Kenya and increase investment in the country. Tata Chemicals, on the other hand, said it respects the government’s decision and remains committed to engaging constructively with the authorities through “appropriate legal and regulatory processes” to resolve the remaining issues.
President Ruto made these remarks during a visit to Kajiado County, where Tata Chemicals’ Magadi plant is located. The company, which is part of the Indian business conglomerate Tata Group, operates at Lake Magadi, located about 120 kilometres (75 miles) southwest of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. The company exports more than 350,000 tonnes of soda ash annually to various markets, including India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and other parts of Africa.
