Kenya's President, William Ruto has moved against foreign businesses on two fronts in less than 24 hours, ordering Indian-owned Tata Chemicals to end its operations in Kenya while directing a nationwide crackdown on foreign nationals running small-scale businesses.
On Thursday, President Ruto ordered Tata Chemicals to stop operating in Kenya, accusing the company of failing to deliver sufficient benefits to the country.
According to Reuters, Ruto said the government would bring in two new companies to take over its operations, with one expected to establish a glass manufacturing facility and another to produce chemicals in Kajiado County.
Tata Chemicals, part of India’s Tata Group, operates the Magadi soda ash facility in Kajiado, where the company has extracted and processed trona for more than a century.
Tata Chemicals has disputed the allegations, saying it remains compliant with relevant regulations. The company said it had submitted the documents requested by the ministry and was awaiting further direction.
