President William Ruto has insisted that the groundbreaking of the multi-trillion-shilling Dangote East Africa Oil Refinery in Lamu will go ahead as planned, despite protests by residents and a pending court case.
Speaking during his Coast tour, the President accused “brokers” of trying to derail the project and assured Kenyans that shares in the refinery will be made available through the Nairobi Securities Exchange so that ordinary citizens can own a stake.
Lamu residents staged demonstrations on Tuesday opposing the project, citing concerns over land rights, environmental impact, and limited community benefits.
A group of 133 residents had earlier moved to court seeking orders to stop activities on the land earmarked for the Sh2 trillion facility. Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote responded that his company is ready to defend the project in court if necessary.
Government officials maintain that the refinery will create thousands of jobs, boost energy security, and position Kenya as a regional petroleum hub. They argue that the investment represents one of the largest private-sector projects in the country’s history and will stimulate economic activity along the Coast and beyond.
As the groundbreaking approaches, security has been heightened in the area. Authorities have urged residents to channel their concerns through legal and official channels while promising continued engagement with local leaders and community representatives.
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