Residents of Magadi in Kajiado County have expressed support for the government’s suspension of Tata Chemicals Magadi’s mining activities. They insist the company must address long-standing community concerns before resuming operations.

During a protest, locals demanded that Tata Chemicals comply fully with mining regulations and honour a binding Community Development Agreement that guarantees tangible benefits to the host community.

Community Demands

  • Implementation of the 2019 Community Development Agreement
  • Direct investments in social infrastructure such as schools, roads, and hospitals
  • Review and return of unused land currently occupied by the company
  • Greater local representation on the company’s board
  • Increased employment opportunities for community members

Magadi Ward MCA Isaac Kiresian emphasized that while the community supports the suspension, their demands must be met before Tata Chemicals is allowed to reopen. "The government suspended Tata Chemicals because it was not compliant with the regulations. Once the company complies and is allowed to resume operations, we want our rightful share as a community through a binding agreement," he said.

Kelvin Koinet, Secretary of the Ilmakati Professional Association, highlighted the need for local participation in decision-making processes. "As a people, we are most affected by the company's operations and, as an educated community, we demand representation on the company's board where decisions affecting us are made," he stated.

Government Action

Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Ali Joho suspended Tata Chemicals Magadi’s mining operations on July 29 due to regulatory non-compliance. The issues cited include failure to implement Community Development Agreements, environmental concerns, local procurement lapses, mineral beneficiation, royalty reconciliation, and export reporting.

The Ministry has instructed the company to resolve all compliance issues and demonstrate full adherence to the Mining Act and related laws before operations can resume.

Despite the government’s directives, residents insist that reopening must be contingent on addressing their grievances and ensuring the community benefits meaningfully from the mining activities.