Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho has ordered an immediate suspension of all mining activities at Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited, citing persistent non-compliance with Kenya's mining regulations.
In a statement released on Wednesday, CS Joho highlighted that despite prolonged engagement efforts, the company has not addressed several critical compliance issues under the Mining Act, Cap. 306. These include:
- Absence of a clear mineral beneficiation and value addition strategy
- Unsettled royalty reconciliation and payment obligations
- Inadequate export reporting and reconciliation
- Poor execution of Community Development Agreements (CDA)
- Insufficient employment and skills transfer plans for Kenyan workers
- Weak procurement of local goods and services
- Environmental compliance deficiencies
The Ministry has mandated Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited to cease operations until it fully complies with all statutory requirements and submits evidence of meeting outstanding obligations.
CS Joho emphasized the government's commitment to responsible mineral resource management that benefits Kenya economically while safeguarding local communities.
Tata Chemicals has been extracting natural soda ash from Lake Magadi since 1911, with annual exports exceeding 350,000 tons to regions including Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East.
