The government has taken steps to address the issues surrounding the suspension of operations at Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited, with a technical committee now set to review the concerns raised by the Ministry of Mining and Blue Economy.
The decision follows a meeting between Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and the company’s executives.
The discussions focused on compliance matters that remain unresolved following the suspension of the company’s operations.
Joho said the committee will be chaired by Principal Secretary for Mining Harry Kimtai, representing the government, while the Chief Executive Officer of Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited will represent the company.
The team will examine the outstanding issues and prepare a report for the CS’s office.
The committee is expected to look at several areas that have been at the centre of the dispute. These include mineral beneficiation and value addition within Kenya, community benefits and royalty payments, as well as unresolved land matters.
The team will also consider whether the area can be opened to other companies involved in mineral extraction. It will further seek to resolve outstanding issues between the company and the Kajiado County Government.
The formation of the committee could provide an opportunity for the government and the company to find a solution through discussions rather than continued confrontation. It also comes after President William Ruto ordered the closure of the Magadi operations, raising questions about the future of the company, which has operated in the area for many years.
The government has argued that minerals extracted in Kenya should create greater benefits for the country instead of being exported mainly as raw materials.
Ruto has also called for the area to be opened to competitive investors who can establish factories and add value to minerals locally.
Joho said the government remains willing to work with investors while ensuring that companies operating in the country follow Kenyan laws and regulations.
He added that the discussions should help create a more sustainable approach to mining, with greater attention to local communities and value addition.
For Tata Chemicals Magadi, the committee will be important in determining what happens next. Its findings could influence whether the company is allowed to resume operations and under what conditions.
The process will also test whether the government and the company can settle the outstanding issues while protecting the interests of workers, local communities, the county government and the wider economy.
