President William Ruto has backed the planned Lamu refinery as a major investment for the Coast region.
President projects 60,000 jobs and fuel supplies for eight countries, while at least 133 Lamu residents seek court intervention over disputed land.
President William Ruto has backed the planned East Africa Refinery in Lamu as residents challenge the project’s land arrangements in court.
Ruto says the project could unlock about Sh2 trillion in investment and create roughly 60,000 jobs.
He announced the September 30 groundbreaking while speaking during a title deed issuance event in Lungalunga, Kwale County.
According to the President, the refinery will supply petroleum products to eight regional markets. He also said it could generate foreign exchange and reduce reliance on imported refined fuel.
The government expects the project to strengthen industrialisation along the Coast and expand investment through the LAPSSET corridor.
133 Residents Challenge Land Takeover
At least 133 Chandavai residents have moved to court seeking to stop works on disputed land.
The residents say their families have occupied and used the land for generations. They claim the area includes farms, homes, mosques, shrines and other community structures.
They have sued several government agencies, including the Office of the President, the Defence Ministry and the National Land Commission.
The LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority and Lamu County Government also appear as defendants. Dangote Industries and two contractors have also been named.
However, the residents’ claims remain before the court and have not been determined.
Heavy Machinery Arrives at Lamu Port
Meanwhile, preparations for the refinery have moved closer to construction.
The MV Da Yang Bai He docked at Lamu Port on September 26 carrying about 2,930 metric tonnes of construction equipment.
The cargo arrived at Berth Three in Kililana, Lamu West, ahead of the planned September 30 groundbreaking.
The proposed refinery will have a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily. That would make it East Africa’s largest refinery once operational.
Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote and the Africa Finance Corporation are backing the project.
Ruto also toured Dangote’s 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lagos after meeting Dangote and AFC chief executive Samaila Zubairu in New York.
Refinery Targets Regional Fuel Market
The government expects the refinery to serve Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Additionally, officials see the project as an anchor for petroleum processing, storage and logistics along the LAPSSET corridor.
Plans also include a special economic zone and industrial facilities around the refinery.
The government expects the wider project to create more than 60,000 jobs. However, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki previously cited 50,000 jobs, while Petroleum PS Kello Harsama has also cited more than 60,000.
The refinery is expected to process crude from Kenya’s Lokichar fields and potentially supplies from other parts of the region.
For now, the September 30 groundbreaking will mark the next major step for the proposed project.
At the same time, the Chandavai residents’ case leaves questions over land rights, compensation and community interests unresolved.
