The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) has criticised Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho, calling for the unconditional lifting of the suspension imposed on Tata Chemicals Magadi.
In a statement issued by MPs affiliated with the party on September 3, the lawmakers questioned the timing of the closure, alleging that it coincided with President William Ruto’s planned visit to Kajiado County.
“On behalf of the people of Kenya, and the people of Kajiado county in particular, we demand the immediate, unconditional reversal of this suspension,” the MPs stated.
The lawmakers said the abrupt shutdown had left more than 500 direct employees and thousands of workers in supporting businesses without jobs.
They further argued that the closure had disrupted access to essential services in Magadi, including infrastructure, healthcare and clean water, which they claimed the government had failed to adequately provide for the community.
The DCP MPs also raised concerns over the potential impact of the shutdown on Nairobi’s water supply, citing the city’s reliance on soda ash produced at the Magadi plant for water treatment.
They questioned where the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) would obtain an estimated 360 tonnes of soda ash required every month to maintain water treatment operations.
“We are also alive to the Poisoning Nairobi’s Water Supply: The closure of tata chemical will expose 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 the people of Kenya and in particular Nairobi,” the statement added.
The party also challenged the government to identify alternative soda ash producers in East Africa, arguing that no other facility would be capable of immediately replacing the output from Magadi.
According to the lawmakers, the closure of a multi-billion-shilling investment based on what they described as a ministerial decision sends a negative signal to potential investors and could undermine Kenya’s reputation as an investment destination.
The MPs further accused the Ministry of Mining of using what they termed flimsy justifications to conceal efforts to pursue lithium deposits allegedly located beneath the Magadi area.
They also claimed that Magadi sits on significant oil prospects and alleged that President Ruto and individuals linked to his administration have business interests connected to the closure.
According to the allegations, Ruto’s administration intends to remove Tata Chemicals from the area or acquire a controlling stake before allowing other companies associated with government allies to undertake oil exploration.
Tata Chemicals Magadi, which has operated in Kenya for decades, had its operations suspended on July 28 following a government directive.
The government and Kajiado Governor Joseph Lenku accused the company of corporate greed, inadequate investment in local infrastructure and failing to settle billions of shillings in land rates.
President Ruto has since announced plans for a new investor to take over operations at Lake Magadi following the revocation of Tata Chemicals Magadi’s licence.
However, he said the incoming investor would be required to establish local glass and chemical manufacturing plants before being issued with a new operating licence.
