Tata Chemicals leased 179,354 acres from Kajiado and have never paid land rates. Tata Chemicals Magadi then approached NLC to stave off a standoff, after Kajiado failed to renew their licenses to operate until 11.4B bill is settled. NLC have no mandate over land rates. Ole Lenku pulled out of the meeting.
https://nation.africa/kenya/counties/kajiado/kajiado-tells-off-nlc-over-sh11bn-magadi-land-rates-row-4138134
A fresh row has erupted between Kajiado County Government and the National Land Commission (NLC) over Sh11 billion in land rates arrears owed to the devolved unit by a multinational.
Attempts by the NLC to resolve the long-standing dispute over unpaid land rates hit a snag on Friday after the county government told off NLC over its attempt to convene a meeting between senior Kajiado County government officers and the Tata Chemicals Magadi management. The multinational mines in Lake Magadi.
NLC Chairman Gershom Otachi’s attempt to bring top Kajiado County government officials and the team from the multinational to the negotiation table on Monday received a setback after Governor Joseph Ole Lenku pulled out his top officials from the scheduled meeting.
The governor ordered his CEC members in charge of Finance, Lands and Environment and National Resources not to attend the meeting at the NLC offices saying the agency had no mandate to get involved in the land rates dispute as the land in question was not public land.
“Tata Chemicals Magadi Ltd was granted a lease of the land they occupy by the County Government of Kajiado and the said ceased to be public land but private land. The NLC, therefore, has no role in the fixing of rates,” Governor Lenku said on Friday in a letter to Mr Otachi.
On Thursday, Mr Otachi had written to the governor, calling for a meeting between the county government and NLC to discuss the land rates issue.
[SIZE=6]Six-year dispute[/SIZE]
In a letter seen by the Nation.Africa, Mr Otachi admitted to having been approached by Tata Chemicals Ltd over the six-year dispute.
“We were approached by Tata Chemicals Magadi Ltd on various issues relating to various parcels of land they hold in the county, including matters of tenure and land rates. We request for participation from your office, particularly the Executives in charge of Finance, Lands and Environment & Natural Resources who are required to bring relevant documentation on the matter,” Mr Otachi wrote to Governor Lenku.
However, Governor Lenku argued that the NLC had no mandate to be involved in the matter, citing a High Court judgment in 2019 that “settled the matter” between the county and the multinational.
“The High Court upheld our constitutional power and right to levy rates through the Kajiado Finance Act (2014) and the Kajiado County Rating Act (2016),” wrote the governor.
The fresh has put brakes on the NLC’s effort to solve the land rates dispute between the Kajiado County government and Tata Chemicals Magadi Ltd.
Last year, the county slapped the multinational with a Sh11 .4 billion land rates bill for the more than 179,354 acres of land it occupies.
This year, the county has denied Tata Chemicals Magadi Ltd licences and permits to operate until it pays the land rates. This means the firm could soon be operating in the county illegally.
Why has Tata not been paying the rates? Did they have a corrupt bargain with previous county administrators? What does Tata contribute to the community, financial and social ? If they leave how much will Kajiado lose and should they be negotiating payment plans?
Kiburi ya wahindi, there was a time they said they wouldn’t pay the rates coz they have been conduction corporate social responsibility projects. Tata bought the company without conducting due diligence and the previous company wasn’t paying land rates they hAve accumulated
Not even president Ruto can shut down that company. Politicians should have self awareness, and choose their battles wisely. Tata Company has operated for over 100 years, surviving world wars.
County Government’s should concentrate on collecting garbage and keeping our towns clean, and avoid offending those they can’t afford.
How much does Tata have do lose ? Sounds like they are being asked for about $ 100 million which I am sure can be negotiated to half. The questions is how much do they make per year in terms of profitability and is it worth fighting with Kajiado who are damn serious about closing down the company . Unfortunately as explained this is not public land so government has no say on rates and Ole Lenku is determined to get paid and oil his wallets to be a future kingpin…that 100 millions has been divided in paper and there is some powerful forces behind the push and this will not end well for Tata.
Wow, we are trying to be industrialized but this is what our stupid leaders are doing! Sounds to me like Tata is willing to negotiate but dimwit Ole Ndengu has taken a hardline stance. If the company closes down it’s the people of Magadi who will feel the most pain!
They will not negotiate to a half, nimesema not even President Ruto can close their company, wacha mambo ya Ole Lenku. Some waters look calm, but they are deep.
They have fcked the Maasai for generations and destroyed their environment and forests; for generations they have exploited and had protectors who are now gone. Tata needs to genuinely invest in the community.
Some companies are too entrenched to destabilize. Magadi Soda Ash is used in the manufacture of glass / Window Panes for buildings all over Western Europe, unadhani beberu anaweza achilia hivi hivi resource kama hiyo.
Hiyo lake Low IQ Maasai wakiwachiwa watafanya nin nayo except herd their emaciated herds to lick the salt. Net worth ya hizo mbuzi zao ni Billioni ngapi?
How have they exploited the maasai for generations? How have the destroyed the environment? What “forest” has been destroyed in the magadi arid lands/desert?