Kenyan President William Ruto has publicly criticized Tata Chemicals Magadi, a subsidiary of the Indian conglomerate Tata Group, regarding the company's long-standing land lease in Kajiado County. During a recent address, President Ruto highlighted that the company has held rights to the land for nearly 100 years without establishing a significant manufacturing or processing factory in the region.

President Ruto questioned the economic benefits of the current arrangement, rhetorically asking, "Are we slaves to other people?" The comments signal a potential shift in the government's approach to foreign-held land leases and industrial expectations. The President’s remarks suggest that the government may be looking to renegotiate terms or pressure the company to invest more heavily in local infrastructure and value-addition facilities, rather than solely extracting resources.

While the President’s office has framed this as a matter of national interest and local economic empowerment, Tata Chemicals has not yet issued a detailed public rebuttal regarding the specific claims about their contractual obligations or future investment plans. The dispute centers on the balance between historical land rights granted to the company and the current administration's push for industrialization and local ownership of resources. The situation remains fluid as the government evaluates the legal and economic implications of the century-old agreement.