Kajiado court suspends implementation of contested land rates pending petition hearing
Advocate Shadrack Wambui presents court order to Kajiado North residents
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Governor Lenku Commends Joho’s action against mining company
Governor Joseph Ole Lenku has commended the National Government for suspending Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited mining licence, describing the move as a significant step towards protecting the interests of the local communities and the environment. He reaffirmed Kajiado County’s commitment to working closely with the National Government and other stakeholders to ensure that any future mining activities are carried out transparently, responsibly, and in accordance with the law. The governor said the compliance enforcement by the national government is very important and claimed that Tata chemicals is operating on a non existing lease for the land they hold through irregular acquisition and is not licensed. “It is in public domain that the entire Magadi Ward 240,000 acres are under Tata Chemicals contrary to the law that it is community land.” Lenku claimed Lenku further said the first justice is for the land to revert to revert to the Maa Community and allow Tata Chemicals to operate within the 8000 acres lake area together with 8 other operators because research has indicated there is capacity. The governor claimed Tata chemicals are not complying with the taxation requirements, are falsifying records and have not remitted levies, land rates and taxes to the county government well over 10 billion shillings. The governor also alleged that Tata Chemicals does not pay taxes on water to the county government. “Their commitment to the Magadi Community falls far below the expectation of their capacity. The number of local employees is completely unsatisfactory. The representation of the Magadi community in their board and the county government is not there.” Lenku said Kajiado County Senator Kanar Ole Seki who had accompanied Governor Lenku during the press briefing, also praised CS Joho for taking action against Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited. “What the cabinet secretary has done is appropriate. The county government, county leadership, Magadi community must be brought on board during any discussions.” Seki said Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited has since responded to the suspension of its mining license by stating that it is fully compliant with Kenyan laws and has adhered to all statutory regulations governing its operations. Formerly known as Magadi Soda Company, Tata Chemicals Magadi has been a part of Tata Chemicals since 2005. Tata Chemicals Limited, part of the global Tata group, with a portfolio of household products, industrial chemicals and agricultural inputs. Tata Chemicals Limited has operations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Kenya, and India. The company is a key supplier of sustainable soda ash to the global glass, detergent, and chemical industries. This is not the first attempt to suspend or close down Tata Company operations by the authority. On 24 October 2025, in a court ruling following an appeal against the ruling and order of the High Court at Kajiado (R. Nyakundi, J.) dated 3rd May 2019 in Petition No. 2 of 2019) the judge presiding over the case (Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited v County Government of Kajiado (Civil Appeal 530 of 2019) [2025] KECA 1721 (KLR) (24 October 2025) declared that Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited was not obliged to pay the Kshs.17,448,485,646 as demanded by the respondent because: Court documents showed that the land Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited formerly Magadi Soda Company operates from, was leased on 20th March 1928. The Government of the Republic of Kenya allowed the appellant to search for, excavate, extract and carry away all the Magadi deposits in two parcels of land, LR No. 1026/R and LR No. 3867, located at Lake Magadi and Lake Natron in what is now Kajiado County. Land portion LR No. 1026/R covered about 211,104 acres while LR No. 3867 covered about 11,678 acres. The appellant, in the Agreement, secured another lease, the railway lease, over LR No. 2341/R that covered about 2,209 acres. About the year 1997, a dispute arose between the Magadi Soda Company which was in December 2005 acquired by Tata Chemicals Limited following the purchase of its parent company, the United Kingdom based Brunner Mond Group and Olkejuado County Council. The dispute ended up in litigation, following which there was a settlement contained in the Agreement signed on 24th February 2004 between the parties. Under Clause 4:2 of the Agreement, the appellant was to pay an amount equal to the industrial rate of Kshs.50 per acre for 50,000 acres, minus the 14,031 acres on which it was already paying industrial rates at the time of the Agreement. Magadi Soda Company was required to, within two years, determine how much land it still required to enable part of the land it held to be surrendered to the Group Ranches. In the event that the Magadi Soda Company did not make the determination, the rates payable on the premises and the railway land would be deemed to be the charged rate at industrial rate, but subject to the Rating Act (Cap. 267). Magadi Soda Company officially changed its trading name to Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited in April 2011. In 2014, Kajiado County Government increased the industrial rate from Kshs.50 to 120 per acre. The appellant was facing financial difficulties. Several meetings were held to develop a payment plan for Kshs.20,325,130 which was outstanding. The County Government enacted the Kajiado Finance Bills 2013/2014, 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 which purported to levy and increase land rates in respect of the appellant’s premises to Kshs.11,000 per acre and Kshs.14,000 per acre, respectively, per year. Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited complained about the exponential increase which it said was going to paralyse its operations. This was because it was operating with negative net worth and had been kept going by line of credit from the parent company. Kajiado County Government went ahead and enacted the Kajiado County Finance Bill 2018/2019 which prescribed land rates at Kshs.2,000 per acre. Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited contested these Bills by stating that the Bills had not been gazetted in the Kenya Gazette and therefore they could not take effect before gazettement. The other complaint was that these Bills and the proposed levies had been done…
Wambui urges Seki to champion residents rights on land rates
Lawyer Shadrack Wambui has called on Kajiado Senator Kanar Ole Seki to take a more active role in defending the rights and interests of ordinary residents on the contentious issue of land rates in Kajiado county. Speaking during a church service at PCEA Ongata Rongai Chapel in Kajiado North, attended by senator Seki alongside several other leaders from Kajiado county, Wambui has challenged Seki to ensure that the voices of local residents are heard and their concerns addressed at both the county and national levels. Addressing the congregation, Wambui has urged Seki to not only focus on national political issues like his support for the former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, but also on matters directly affecting the people who elected him. “You are our watchman. As our watchman, besides fighting for the rights of people at the top as we have seen you standing with Gachagua, try and fight for the rights of the people down here,” Wambui said. Wambui has further called on Seki to use his position in the senate to raise the matter and engage directly with the Kajiado county government in search of a fair and lasting solution citing that Seki has a duty to ensure that residents concerns are represented at the highest levels of government. The remarks by Wambui are centred on the ongoing dispute over land rates for both freehold and leasehold property owners in Kajiado county. The issue has become a major concern among residents following the passage of the Kajiado County Finance Bill 2026 by the Kajiado County Assembly. According to Wambui, the new legislation significantly increases land rates despite an earlier court ruling that declared a previous increase by the county government unconstitutional. Wambui argues that the county authorities should have respected the court’s decision instead of introducing another increase that places additional financial burdens on landowners. Through Sheria Mtaani Na Shadrack Wambui, Wambui has for the second time moved to court to challenge the implementation of the new rates in a case seeks to protect residents from what he has termed as unfair and unlawful charges imposed by the county government. Wambui has noted that many families and property owners are already struggling with the rising cost of living and should not be subjected to further financial pressure through increased land rates. He has maintained that public participation, transparency and adherence to court decisions must guide all county taxation policies. The land rates dispute continues to attract significant public interest across Kajiado county with many residents closely following the court proceedings and awaiting a final determination.
Kajiado communities embrace harvesting the sun to grow food
For nearly a decade, plant and animal produce from The 3000 Friends Farm has been supplying food for an estimated 200 residents every month.
“Ban Monik and Parantai” Kibiko Resident Urges
A resident of the contested Keekonyokie community land has urged the Kajiado West Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) to ensure Moses parantai and Moses Monik who are the leaders of the two rival groups, do not step into the contested land until an ongoing court case is resolved.
Ngong Residents Urge Local Administration to Avoid Ngujiri Until Land Dispute is Resolved
The local government administration and the alternative justice system (AJS) that was setup to resolve land disputes have been urged to stop sharing a platform with Prayers beyond boundaries ministries (PBB) Televangelist Lucy wa Ngunjiri until a Ngong land dispute involving the PBB ministries is resolved. A section of Bondeni residents where the land claimed by PBB Ministries is located, raised their concerns after the televangelist was given prominent visibility during a recently held Peace event in Ngong town. “The administrators may be doing that in good faith, but Professionally and administratively, they shouldn’t do that. It looks bad on them. I hope they are not planning to give her a platform during Mashujaa day.” Mr Kimani who claims the disputed land is public said. Should Lucy wa Ngunjiri be invited to Mashujaa day event or should she stay away until the land dispute is resolved?