This archive report was first published on 6 November 2019.
On November 6, 2019, a court-ordered six-month timeline for resolving a Sh17 billion row between Tata Chemicals Magadi Ltd and Kajiado County expired, with the multinational missing the entire summons by writing letters of regret.
The dispute, which began in 2018, revolves around land rates owed by Tata Chemicals on a 224,991-acre piece of land controlled by the company under a lease agreement.
According to Kajiado Lands County Executive member Hamilton Parseina, the parties were expected to appear before Kajiado High Court to give their report on the progress of the arbitration.
However, the last meeting chaired by Principal Secretary John Omenge proceeded without Tata Chemicals' representatives, allegedly citing that executive director Harish Nair was engaged elsewhere.
The Ministry of Mining, led by Cabinet Secretary John Munyes, had called for arbitration to resolve the dispute, but Tata Chemicals has boycotted the meetings.
As a result, Kajiado County is experiencing huge losses due to the stoppage of collection of rates as directed by the court.
