World
Kenya Forms Joint Committee with Tata Chemicals Magadi to Settle Compliance Dispute
Kenya's Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs has announced plans to form a high-level technical committee aimed at resolving compliance issues with Tata Chemicals Magadi Ltd., following the suspension of the company's operations. Cabinet Secretary Hassan Ali Joho said in a letter dated September 9, 2026, that he met with company executives at his office to discuss concerns the Ministry had raised in July 2026. "Following the suspension of operations at Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited, today at my office, I led a fruitful engagement with the Company's executives regarding the compliance concerns we raised as a Ministry," Joho stated. According to the letter, both parties agreed to set up the committee to ensure a thorough and timely resolution of pending issues. The committee will be co-chaired by the Principal Secretary for Mining, representing the Ministry, and the Chief Executive Officer of Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited, representing the company. Joho said the committee would conduct a detailed technical review of unresolved compliance matters and submit a report to his office for further consideration and direction. Among the key issues to be examined are mineral beneficiation and in-country value addition, unresolved community benefits and royalty payments, pending land disputes, the potential opening of the area for multiple mineral extraction, and unresolved matters involving the Kajiado County Government. "As Government, we remain committed to constructive engagement with investors while firmly upholding Kenya's laws, regulations and the interests of its people," Joho said, adding that the goal was not only to address compliance concerns but also to build a sustainable framework supporting responsible mining, value addition, community development, and mutually beneficial partnerships. The development follows remarks made last week by Kenya's President, who told a public gathering that he had instructed Tata Chemicals to cease operations and leave the country — a statement that raised concerns among international investors about the safety of their investments in Kenya.