From glass to detergents: Everyday products linked to Kenya’s Lake Magadi soda ash
By Trizer Lijondo, September 4, 2026The ongoing conversation around Tata Chemicals Magadi has brought renewed attention to Lake Magadi and its soda ash deposits, but beyond the debate over mining and investment is a mineral with a surprising connection to everyday products.
On Thursday, September 3, 2026, President William Ruto ordered Tata Chemicals to end its operations in Kenya, arguing that the country had not benefited sufficiently from the company’s activities. Reuters reported that the President also announced plans to have new investors establish glass and chemical manufacturing facilities in Kajiado.
The development has placed soda ash in the spotlight, with many Kenyans now curious about what the mineral is and where it is used.
From Lake Magadi to glass bottles
Soda ash, also known as sodium carbonate, is an important raw material in glass manufacturing.
According to Tata Chemicals, natural soda ash produced at its Magadi operation is used to manufacture bottles, jars, containers and different types of flat glass.
During glass production, soda ash acts as a flux, helping lower the temperature required to melt silica. This makes the manufacturing process more efficient.
The mineral extracted from Lake Magadi can therefore eventually become part of glass products found in supermarkets, restaurants, homes and businesses.
Tata Chemicals says soda ash production at Lake Magadi dates back to 1911, making the operation one of the longest-running industrial activities in the area.
The connection to detergents and soap
The mineral also has applications in household cleaning products.
Tata Chemicals lists detergents and soap among the products that use soda ash. In cleaning formulations, sodium carbonate provides alkalinity and helps soften water, making it useful in cleaning processes.
Soda ash is also used in water treatment and several manufacturing industries, including textiles, pulp and paper, chemicals and metallurgy.
Its role in everyday life is therefore broader than many people realise.
Why Lake Magadi matters
Lake Magadi is naturally rich in trona, a mineral from which soda ash can be produced.
According to Tata Chemicals, its Magadi operation is Africa’s largest natural soda ash production facility, with the company supplying markets beyond Kenya.
As discussions continue over the future of the operation, the attention on Lake Magadi has also highlighted the journey of a mineral that begins in Kenya’s Rift Valley and can eventually find its way into glass containers, detergents, soaps and other manufactured products.