President William Ruto has directed the government to re-advertise the Magadi minerals contract, giving more companies the opportunity to bid for mining rights in Kajiado County.
Speaking during the launch of the Ngong-Kibiko-Kangeria road construction in Kajiado West Constituency on September 5, Ruto said the new tender would allow several companies to participate instead of a single firm controlling operations in Magadi.
He said the government could allow up to 10 companies to apply for mining rights, arguing that the mineral resources in Magadi were sufficient to support multiple investors.
“We will advertise the contract afresh and open the opportunities to greater participation. We will no longer allow one company to monopolize operations at Magadi at the expense of the people and the wider economy,” Ruto said.
Ruto Seeks New Bidders for Magadi Minerals
The President said the decision aimed to ensure Kenyans, particularly residents of Kajiado, receive greater benefits from minerals extracted from their land.
He also said companies that secure the new contracts would be required to establish processing and manufacturing facilities in Kenya.
Ruto said the government would not allow raw materials from Magadi to be exported for processing elsewhere, insisting that the resources should create value, jobs and wealth locally.
“We will also not allow the export of raw materials that leaves Kenya with little value while wealth and jobs are created elsewhere. Companies that win the new Magadi contracts must establish processing and manufacturing facilities here in Kenya,” Ruto added.
The new arrangement is expected to replace the existing mining arrangement involving Tata Chemicals Magadi, whose operations have been suspended.
Also Read: Tata Chemicals Magadi: Owners of Over 100-Year-Old Company Ruto Ordered Out of Kenya
On September 3, 2026, President William Ruto ordered Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited to stop its operations and leave Kenya, following the government’s suspension of the company’s mining activities on July 28, 2026.
Further, Ruto said no company will be allowed to occupy all the 240,000 acres of land in Kajiado County.
He said companies would instead be allowed to occupy about 20 to 30 percent of the land, while the remaining 70 percent would be returned to the people of Kajiado County for other uses and development.
Also Read: Joho Suspends Indian-Owned Mining Company Over Non-Compliance Issues
What was Tata Chemicals’ Total Revenue in 2024/2025?
Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited was one of Kenya’s major soda ash producers, operating at Lake Magadi in Kajiado County.
The company reported a turnover of about KSh10 billion ($78.7 million) in its 2024 accounts, after selling approximately 245,000 tonnes of soda ash.
Kenya exported about 254,779 tonnes of soda ash worth KSh7.3 billion ($56.9 million) in the year to July 2025.
Tata Chemicals Magadi employs about 500 people at its Lake Magadi operations. The soda ash produced at the facility is used in the manufacture of products including glass, soaps and detergents.
The company also stated that its community programmes benefit about 30,000 people living around Magadi through initiatives covering water supply, healthcare, education and infrastructure.
Tata Chemicals Magadi traces its operations at Lake Magadi to 1911, while a major mining lease with the Kenyan government was signed in 1928.
The took over the operation in 2005 after acquiring the UK based Brunner Mond Group, which had been running the business.
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