President William Ruto has hit back at the Linda Mwananchi political movement over its criticism of his decision to order Tata Chemicals Magadi to leave Kenya, accusing its leaders of failing to understand the debate surrounding the exploitation of the country’s natural resources.
Speaking during a rally in Magadi, Kajiado County, on Saturday, Ruto dismissed arguments that the government should rely on the rule of law to protect Tata Chemicals Magadi.
The President argued that the law could not be used to protect contracts that he believes are exploitative and undermine the interests of Kenyans.
Ruto specifically criticised the Linda Mwananchi movement, which has opposed his administration and includes Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna among its leaders.
“Mimi nimesikia wale watu wa Linda Sponsor wanasema eti wanapingana na mimi. Mimi nataka niwaambie wale watu wa Linda Sponsor: you have no clarity on anything…Don’t tell us about the rule of law,” Ruto stated.
“There is no rule of law that sustains extractive, exploitative contracts that undermine the interests of the nation, the interests of the people of Kenya, or the interests of the people of Kajiado.”
Ruto Accuses Critics of Defending Exploitative Contracts
The President also rejected the argument that exporting raw materials could generate meaningful employment opportunities for Kenyans.
“The problem with having agreed and submitted yourself to be puppets, hirelings and stooges of your sponsor is that you have no mind of your own. You cannot think straight,” Ruto noted.
“It doesn’t matter how much schooling you have had. It doesn’t matter how much English you speak. You cannot speak anything meaningful because you want to protect exploitative contracts.”
Ruto said the government would reopen the process of awarding rights to exploit soda ash resources in Magadi, arguing that the resource was large enough to support several investors rather than being controlled by a single company.
Government to Advertise Magadi Soda Ash Rights
The President said the government would invite multiple companies to apply for rights to exploit the resource under new arrangements.
“We are going to advertise afresh so that other companies, not just one company, can apply. Three, four, five, six, even ten companies can apply because the resource we have in Magadi is big enough to sustain more than one company,” he said.
He added that future contracts would require companies to undertake value addition locally instead of exporting raw materials for processing abroad.
“This time round, we are going to make sure the contract is firm on ensuring that value addition of our minerals and the resources in Magadi is not done abroad. Value addition is going to be done here in Kenya.”
Ruto said the government would also require investors to establish manufacturing industries in the area, including glass and chemical factories.
“The glass factory will be done here in Kenya. The chemical factory will be done here in Kenya. They will hire Kenyan workers and use Kenyan resources so that we can grow our economy and create value from the products and resources available here in the Republic of Kenya,” said Ruto.
Sifuna Warns Tata Chemicals Decision Could Hurt Investment
Ruto’s remarks came hours after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna criticised the President’s directive to have Tata Chemicals Magadi leave Kenya.
Sifuna warned that the approach could undermine investor confidence and negatively affect job creation.
The senator argued on Friday that disputes between the government and private companies should be handled through established legal mechanisms rather than presidential directives.
“When companies make decisions about where to put their investments, the dispute resolution regime in place is key because disputes arise all the time. The ‘mambo matatu, pack and go’ approach, where the President can just shut down your business, is very bad for investment and consequently job creation,” he said.
Sifuna, who is part of the Linda Mwananchi movement, said the opposition alliance would seek to restore adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law if it forms the next government after the 2027 General Election.
Tata Chemicals Magadi Faces Exit Order
Tata Chemicals Magadi, a subsidiary of India’s Tata Group, has operated in the Lake Magadi area for decades, producing soda ash and other industrial mineral products from trona deposits.
Ruto ordered the company to leave Kenya on Thursday, accusing it of holding a licence for about a century without doing enough to create jobs or establish industries in Kajiado.
The President said the government would instead seek investors willing to establish glass and chemical manufacturing plants locally, create employment and ensure greater value is derived from Kenya’s mineral resources.
The dispute has since triggered a wider debate over foreign investment, investor protection, natural-resource ownership and the extent to which Kenya should require local value addition from companies exploiting its mineral resources.
