Kenya’s President William Ruto ​said on Thursday (September 3, 2026) he had ‌ordered India’s Tata Chemicals to ​stop its operations ⁠in Kenya, saying its presence had failed to benefit the country.

Mr. Ruto said ‌the government would bring in two new ‌companies to take over operations ‌for ⁠Tata Chemicals. In late July, ⁠Tata had said Kenya’s government had ordered its unit Tata Chemical Limited ​to suspend its ‌operations at the Magadi Soda factory and suspended any exports of soda ash.

“That TATA ‌company … had that contract ​for 100 years. They have not built anything in ⁠Kajiado; they have not built any factory in Kajiado,” Mr. Ruto ‌said during a visit to the region in southern Kenya.

“We have said we will bring a new company and… they should put a ‌big glass company here in Kajiado. ​And another company to make chemicals here in Kajiado. ⁠Are we slaves to other people?”

The ⁠company could not immediately be reached for comment ‌on Mr. Ruto’s decision and his criticism.