05 H.E. Joseph Ole Lenku has openly condemned the action taken by TATA Chemicals Magadi Limited to demolish structures and building materials meant for the construction of County facilities in Magadi Township. The weekend incident has sparked outrage among the local residents who have for a long time looked forward to service delivery within their localities.
In a press statement released to the media, Lenku promised swift legal action against the company, terming their move as criminal and outrageous since a lot of tax payers’ money had gone down the drain with such an unprovoked move.“The decision to put up administrative offices to serve the remote areas of Magadi and the greater Kajiado West sub county was meant to better my government’s service delivery. This incident is unfortunate,’’ he exclaimed.
The governor mentioned that a consultative public meeting held last month between The County Government of Kajiado and TATA Chemical Magadi highlighted the urgency of administrative offices in the area to cater to the dire need of County services by the residents. He added that a civil engagement was already in the offing between the company, his government and investors on formal and civil implications of setting up the administrative offices in the area.
Lenku also revealed that The TATA Chemical Magadi stands blacklisted by the County Government for defaulting on payment of levies in arrears to the tune of over Kshs. 17Billion.
“Like all other devolved units, the County Finance Act governs levies applicable to different activities within the County; all investors including TATA Chemicals Magadi are bound by this and other county legislation,” said Lenku.
The governor has demanded that the arrears be settled in full adding that it was not only fair to do so but also as a legitimate expectation of the people of Kajiado.
He called upon the residents of Magadi and Kajiado West to maintain calm and trust the investigative agencies to complete their work since defaulter issue was before court and the law was expected to take its course.
He said the hard-line stand taken by the company despite the cordial relationship over the years was retrogressive since the people of Kajiado are the ultimate losers in as far as service delivery by the county government is concerned.
Lenku assured investors that despite this stand-off, Kajiado remains a haven of peace and a conducive county for investment that is geared towards development and the good of the people of Kajiado.
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