LAMU, Kenya — President William Ruto has warned individuals he described as brokers, blackmailers and extortionists against interfering with the proposed Dangote East Africa Refinery, saying Kenya will protect investors and major projects.
Speaking during the refinery’s groundbreaking ceremony in Lamu on Wednesday, Ruto said investors would not be required to meet demands from individuals seeking to benefit from their projects.
“I know you have had a different experience in Kenya. Nobody is going to extort anything from you. No one will be given anything for free because they are blackmailing you,” Ruto said.
The President accused unnamed individuals of seeking opportunities to benefit from investors but said his administration would not allow such practices.
“Extortionists are looking for opportunities. But no one will talk to them,” he said.
Ruto Invokes Dangote’s Earlier Warning
Ruto also referred to recent comments by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, who has spoken about potential investments in Kenya.
“You have heard Dangote saying he is ready for trouble. He will give them (brokers) big trouble. Mjipange,” Ruto said.
The remarks come as the Sh2 trillion refinery project faces a legal challenge by residents over land ownership, compensation and other concerns. A court has ordered the parties to maintain the status quo on the disputed land pending further proceedings.
Ruto has previously criticised what he described as attempts to frustrate major investments, citing past projects that he said were affected by demands from individuals seeking shares or other benefits. Those claims are the President’s characterisation of the disputes.
Dangote Sets 40-Month Completion Target
Earlier at the groundbreaking ceremony, Dangote announced a 40-month timeline for completion of the Lamu refinery.
He said the project would seek to replicate the success of his 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lekki, Nigeria.
“Lekki refinery in Nigeria proved that it is capable, so Lamu must prove that it can be repeated,” Dangote said.
He told Ruto and other African leaders attending the ceremony that he expected them to return to Kenya to commission the facility within 40 months.
The project is valued at about $16 billion, according to Reuters, and is expected to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day when completed.
Refinery To Generate 1,000MW
Dangote has also said the Lamu facility will have a power-generation capacity of approximately 1,000 megawatts, twice the capacity of the power plant serving his Lagos refinery.
About 500MW could potentially be supplied to the Kenyan government, according to earlier details provided by Dangote.
The refinery is expected to serve the East African market and reduce the region’s reliance on imported refined petroleum products.
Court Battle Continues
The groundbreaking comes amid an ongoing dispute over land earmarked for the project.
A group of 133 residents has challenged the development, citing ancestral land claims and concerns over compensation and environmental safeguards.
The Malindi Environment and Land Court has maintained the status quo on the disputed land pending further proceedings, meaning the substantive issues raised by the residents remain before the court.
Dangote Group has said the court order would not prevent the official groundbreaking but acknowledged that it could affect some activities at the site.
The refinery is now entering its construction phase, with Dangote targeting commissioning within 40 months as the government seeks to position the project as a major investment in Kenya and the wider East African region.
