Kenyan presidential aspirant Patrick Osoi has opposed Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote’s proposed $16 billion oil refinery in Lamu, saying he would prioritise local investors if elected president next year.
Osoi made the remarks in a video circulating online on Sunday while addressing supporters at a Lions Movement event. He argued that Kenya has business people capable of developing the project without relying on Dangote.
“I want to tell Aliko Dangote, please don’t rush to start the refinery because, when I’m sworn in as President of Kenya next year, you will be heading back to Nigeria,” Osoi said.
He maintained that Kenyan investors could undertake the project, adding that promoting local participation was central to his movement’s position.
Dangote’s proposed refinery, planned for Lamu, is designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and supply Kenya and other East African markets. The project is intended to expand regional refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.
Dangote and Kenyan President William Ruto performed the project’s groundbreaking ceremony on September 30, 2026. Reports surrounding the launch put the expected construction period at about 40 months.
However, the project has encountered opposition from some residents over land ownership, compensation and environmental concerns. A Kenyan court has also ordered parties to maintain the status quo in a land dispute connected to the development.
Osoi’s comments place local investment and control at the centre of the debate over the proposed refinery, one of the major industrial projects planned for the region.
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