Gachagua's DCP links Soda Ash closure to Ruto's commercial interests

DCP leaders accuse Ruto of economic sabotage over Tata Chemicals’ closure. [Courtesy]

Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leaders now claim President William Ruto’s commercial interests led to the closure of Africa’s largest manufacturer of natural soda ash, Tata Chemicals Limited.

Led by the party’s Secretary-General designate John Methu and a host of Kajiado leaders, where the company is domiciled, the leaders claim the closure, which was attributed to regulatory compliance, was a “textbook example of state-sponsored economic sabotage” that “will plunge thousands of Kenyan families into absolute desperation”.

“The flimsy excuses given are just a decoy. The truth of the matter is, there are huge deposits worth trillions of shillings of lithium metals underneath the Magadi area. Further, there are huge oil prospects in the same vicinity within which Tata Chemicals Limited operates,” Methu said.

He told journalists during a press briefing that the President, through his “insatiable appetite for material wealth”, wanted to create a crisis by forcing Tata Chemicals out and allegedly bringing in his associates to undertake oil exploration and cash in on the fortune.

“Mr President, Kenya’s natural resources cannot be individualised to your personal interests. This is not the first time you are going for our natural resources for your personal gain; we are well aware of your hand in Turkana oil, gold in Shimba Hills, gold exploration in Laikipia, Narok, Kakamega and Amboseli, among others. Now you want lithium and oil in Magadi. Mr President, how much is enough? How much?” the leaders posed.

According to Kajiado Senator Seki Kanar, more than 100,000 residents faced uncertainty following the closure of the soda ash company, while the fate of more than 500 workers remained unclear.

“Punishing the people of Magadi by locking the gates of this facility, the government is actively starving the local community of critical infrastructure, basic healthcare and clean water supplies that the state itself has historically failed to provide,” Seki said.

The leaders also decried the closure, saying it would result in the poisoning of Nairobi’s water supply, exposing millions of people to an immediate national health hazard.

“By cutting off the supply of hundreds of tonnes of essential soda ash required monthly by the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company and its environs, this risks the lives of millions of people in Kenya, and in particular Nairobi,” the senator added.

The leaders said the closure of the soda ash company was a major blow to Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company, which gets an average of 360 tonnes of soda ash every month to treat water for residents.

Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo said his constituents had been relying on water from the company and that the closure had led to untold suffering due to water shortages.

“We are also worried by the spirited effort by this regime to kill Kenya’s investment reputation. This arbitrary enforcement signals to the global community that Kenya is a lawless banana republic where multi-billion-shilling investments can be liquidated by ministerial whim, crippling our nation’s competitive edge,” the legislator said.

The leaders want the President to explain to Kajiado residents, during his visit later this week, why he ordered the closure of the soda ash company.

“Mr President, as you go to Magadi and Kajiado this week, please do a low-flying to see how many Maa people are lining up with jerricans looking for water for drinking and for animals. Before you became president, these people had water. You have ravaged their towns and their livelihoods. Please restore these people to where you found them. Do not squeeze the last pint of blood in their veins,” the leaders said.

Yesterday, Ruto announced that he had ordered the closure of the company, accusing it of failing to invest in Kajiado County despite operating there for decades.

“We have vast resources at Lake Magadi that can transform Kajiado County and our country, Kenya. That Tata Chemicals company has had a licence for 100 years but has not built anything in Kajiado or employed any people from Kajiado,” said Ruto.

Speaking in Oloiren, Kajiado County, Ruto accused the company of extracting resources from Lake Magadi and exporting them without sufficiently contributing to the local economy.

“I told them to pack up their things and leave. Let them go. These people come here, take our resources and transport them to India and other countries,” he said.

Ruto said the government will issue the Lake Magadi soda ash mining licence to a new investor, with the investor required to establish industries that will add value to the resources extracted from the area.

He said the new investor will be required to establish a major glass manufacturing plant in Kajiado, as well as another facility for the manufacture of chemicals.

“We will bring in a new company, and the condition for that company is that it must establish a major glass manufacturing plant here in Kajiado County, as well as another company to manufacture chemicals,” said the Head of State.

The President’s remarks come months after Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho suspended TCML’s mining operations on July 28, 2026.

In a statement, Joho said the suspension would remain in place until the company fully complies with the Mining Act, its regulations and other applicable laws governing Kenya’s mining sector.

According to the Mining CS, the suspension followed years of engagement between the State Department for Mining and Tata Chemicals Magadi over the company’s statutory obligations

The Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hon. Hassan Ali Joho, has ordered the immediate suspension of all mining operations by Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited until the company fully complies with the Mining Act, its Regulations and all other applicable laws governing Kenya's mining sector,” the statement read.

On August 19, Tata Chemicals announced that it had submitted all information and documentation requested by the government following the suspension of its mining operations.

The company said it had responded comprehensively to the Ministry of Mining’s concerns and demonstrated compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.

Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited (TCML) confirms it has submitted all information, reports and documentation requested by the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs in connection with the suspension of its mining operations,” the company said.

Tata Chemicals has operated at the Lake Magadi site since 1911, marking 115 years of operations.