Kenya’s President William Ruto has ordered Tata Chemicals, an Indian company, to leave the country, stating the firm has not delivered the economic benefits he expected. Speaking at a public rally, Ruto criticized Tata Chemicals for not building any factories or employing local workers in Kajiado, the county where Lake Magadi is located. He accused the company of extracting Kenya’s natural resources and sending them to India, and urged it to "pack and leave" in favor of a new investor who would build a glass factory in Kenya. Tata Chemicals has operated in Kenya since 2005, extracting soda ash from Lake Magadi. Soda ash is a key ingredient in the production of glass, soaps, and detergents. According to government data, Kenya exported 254,779 tons of soda ash valued at $56.9 million in the year ending July 2025. However, the company’s operations were suspended in July by Kenya’s ministry of mining, pending a "compliance review" of its activities. Ruto has set a condition for any new investor: they must build a glass factory in Kenya. In response, Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited stated in a communication to India’s National Stock Exchange that it is "fully compliant" with Kenyan regulations and is awaiting further instructions from the government regarding the review of its operations. The company did not confirm if it had received an official order to leave the country but emphasized its "commitment to constructive engagement" with Kenyan authorities. Soda ash is extracted from trona, a naturally occurring mineral found in Lake Magadi. Large-scale commercial production in the area began in 1911. If Tata Chemicals leaves Kenya, it could result in job losses and a significant drop in revenue for the country, as the company has been a major player in the soda ash industry. The situation highlights the delicate balance between foreign investment and local economic development in Kenya.