Donald Kipkorir has questioned critics of Tata Chemicals Magadi following a fresh government move to engage the company over unresolved compliance concerns.
The city lawyer’s remarks came after Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho announced that the government had agreed with Tata Chemicals Magadi executives to establish a high-level technical committee to review issues surrounding the company’s operations.
Kipkorir appeared to take aim at those who had celebrated President William Ruto’s earlier directive that Tata Chemicals should leave Kenya, asking whether they still supported the government’s latest position.
“Those who were cheering TATA CHEMICALS MAGADI being kicked out of Kenya, are they still there? Are they supporting Government new stance to resolve the issue? Akili ndogo ni hasara.” Kipkorir said.
His comments followed Joho’s statement on Tuesday, September 8, in which the CS disclosed that he had held discussions with executives from Tata Chemicals Magadi after the suspension of the company’s operations.
Joho said the engagement had been fruitful and that both sides had agreed to establish a high-level technical committee to facilitate a comprehensive review of the outstanding matters.
The committee will be led by the Principal Secretary for Mining on behalf of the government and the Chief Executive Officer of Tata Chemicals Magadi on behalf of the company.
The team is expected to examine several contentious issues before submitting its findings to Joho for consideration and further direction.
Among the matters listed by the CS are mineral beneficiation and in-country value addition, outstanding community benefits and royalty obligations, unresolved land matters, opening up the area for multiple mineral extraction and outstanding issues involving the Kajiado County Government.
The latest development marks a shift from the tougher position taken by Ruto, who had ordered Tata Chemicals to leave Kenya and argued that the country should derive greater value from its natural resources.
The President had criticised the existing arrangement and called for greater local value addition, investment and economic benefits from the soda ash resources at Magadi.
Joho, however, maintained that the government remains committed to constructive engagement with investors while enforcing Kenya’s laws and protecting the interests of citizens.
The CS said the government wants to establish a sustainable framework promoting responsible mining, value addition, community development and mutually beneficial partnerships.