On Saturday February 2nd 2019. Tata Chemicals Magadi Ltd descended upon County properties. and blatantly demolished structures and destroyed materials for construction of office facilities meant to better serve the vast and remote Magadi region Of Kajiado West Sub County.
Significant amounts Of hard-earned taxpayers’ funds went down the drain in the unprovoked criminal act by the said Company.
This incident was immediately reported to the police 1 look forward to swift action on this criminal activity.
We had always sought and determined to engage the company as well as other investors in a formal and civil manner.
In fact on 22M January 2019 at the County government’s behest. a meeting was held in my office between my government and the top management of Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited.
Like all other devolved units, the County Government Of Kajiado enacted the County Finance Act that governs levies applicable to different activities within the County
All investors. including Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited, are bound by this and other county legislation.
Unfortunately the company has defaulted to the tune of over Kshs 17 blllton It is only fair and indeed legitimate expectation of the people of Kaliado, that these arrears are settled in full.
The decision to put up an administrative office was necessitated by the dire need to ease delivery of services for the people Of Magadi.
It was reached on 1 7th’ January 2019 following a consultative public meeting between the County Government of Kajiado, the people of Magadi and Tata Chemicals Magadi Ltd, The operations Of Magadi Tata Chemicals Limited sit on 224.991 acres and thousands of locals are resident within the said acreage. The sheer size of the area makes a county administrative office an urgent necessity.
The County Government of Kajiado’s constitutionally mandated to steer local economic and social development and further support and encourage the private sector within the County
The government will ensure that every function either directly or Indirectly provided for in the Constitution and falls within Kajiado County will be administered and fully implemented.
We were therefore taken aback by the company’s hardline, even belligerent position On payment Of rates and water Yet, all other ordinary wananchi and enterprises. big and small continue to pay their dues in accordance with county laws.
It does appear clearly that the people Of Kajiado are getting a raw deal in the relationship with the the company. It amounts to decades Of corporate exploitation
The dispute on the default amount is now a matter before the courts and accordingly. the law shall take its course on merits therein. The fight to secure their Dignity, Freedom and Economic Empowerment eventually be won.
I call for calm and specialty beseech the residents of Magada to trust the Investigative agencies and the County Government of Kajiado to competently protect their Interests.