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

Kenya's President William Ruto. PHOTO | COURTESY

Nairobi. Kenya's President William Ruto said on Thursday he ​had ordered India's Tata Chemicals to stop ‌its operations in Kenya, saying its presence had failed to benefit the country.

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.

"That TATA ​company ... had that contract for 100 ​years. They have not built anything in Kajiado, ‌they ⁠have not built any factory in Kajiado," Ruto said during a visit to the region in southern Kenya.

"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?"

The company could ⁠not ​immediately be reached for comment ​on Ruto's decision and his criticism.