‘Are we slaves to other people?’ Kenya President orders Tata Chemicals to end operations after 100 years

Kenya President William Ruto on Thursday said he had ordered Tata Chemicals to stop operations in the country, questioning, “are we slaves to other people?”Ruto said the government would bring in two new companies to take over Tata Chemicals’ operations, alleging that the company had failed to bring sufficient investment and industrial development to the region.“That ⁠Tata company … had that contract for 100 years. They have not built anything in Kajiado, they have not built any factory in Kajiado,”Ruto said during a visit to Kajiado in southern Kenya, according to Reuters.“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?” he added.In late July, Tata said the Kenyan government had ordered its unit, Tata Chemical Limited, to suspend operations at the Magadi Soda factory. The company also suspended exports of soda ash from the facility.