The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) has taken a swipe at Cabinet Secretary for Mining and Blue Economy Ali Hassan Joho, demanding an unconditional reversal of the suspension of TATA Chemicals Magadi.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a statement issued by MPs allied to the party on September 3, DCP claimed the closure order came at a convenient time, just as President William Ruto was planning a tour of Kajiado County.

“ On behalf of the people of Kenya, and the people of Kajiado county in particular, we demand the immediate, unconditional reversal of this suspension,” read the statement in part.  The statement further says over 500 direct employees and thousands of support workers have been rendered jobless overnight by the abrupt closure.

According to the MPs, the shutdown has left the Magadi community locked out of critical infrastructure, healthcare and clean water that the government had long failed to provide.

📌 What You Need to Know

The party further claims the closure threatens Nairobi's water supply, since the city depends on hundreds of tonnes of soda ash from the plant every month.

They are now asking where the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company will source an average of 360 tonnes of soda ash per month to continue treating water.

“ We are also alive to the Poisoning Nairobi’s Water Supply: The closure of tata chemical will expose millions of people to an immediate national health hazard. By cutting off the supply of hundreds of tonnes of essential soda ash required monthly by the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company and its environs, this risks the lives of millions of the people of Kenya and in particular Nairobi,” added the statement.

The MPs also want to know where else in East Africa soda ash is produced, arguing no other plant can fill the gap left by Magadi.

The party warns that shutting down a multi-billion shilling investment on a ministerial whim sends a dangerous signal that Kenya is unsafe for serious investors, accusing the Ministry of Mining of hiding behind flimsy excuses to mask a scramble for lithium deposits believed to lie beneath Magadi.

They further allege that the area sits atop major oil prospects and claim that President William Ruto and his allies have personal business interests tied to the closure.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke