Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has expressed support for the Sh2.2 trillion Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery investment in Lamu, Kenya. He stressed that foreign direct investment in the country should go hand in hand with transparency, due process, and public accountability. This statement comes as President William Ruto and Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote broke ground for the proposed refinery in Lamu, marking the beginning of construction of one of Kenya's largest planned industrial investments.
The Dangote refinery project, valued at Sh2.2 trillion, aims to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil a day and is expected to supply petrol, diesel, and jet fuel to Kenya and other regional markets. The project is projected to create tens of thousands of jobs and stimulate industries around Lamu Port and the LAPSSET corridor. Kalonzo, who has a personal and political connection to Lamu's development history, recalled his involvement with former President Mwai Kibaki and the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the development of Vision 2030.
Under Vision 2030, the LAPSSET corridor and Lamu Port were identified as flagship projects. LAPSSET, short for the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor, was conceived as a major infrastructure network linking the northern Kenyan coast with inland Kenya and neighbouring countries. Lamu Port remains a central component of that vision, with the refinery now being positioned as another major industrial anchor around the port.
Kalonzo reaffirmed the Opposition's oversight role, citing their objections to the Adani deals involving Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Kenya Electricity Transmission Company. He argued that scrutiny should not be interpreted as hostility to investment, emphasizing that the Opposition welcomes investment but demands due process. Kalonzo stated that Kenyans must be the ones to benefit from such investments, not just a few individuals.
The refinery project has attracted scrutiny beyond politics, with questions raised over land rights, compensation, and environmental concerns. Another major issue is crude supply, as Kenya's projected domestic production would be far below the refinery's 700,000-barrel daily capacity. This means the facility would rely heavily on crude from other African producers and international sources.
Government officials have presented the refinery as a transformative investment capable of strengthening energy security, industrialisation, and regional trade. ODM leader Oburu Oginga has also backed the project, urging Lamu and Coast residents to support the investment and reject efforts to derail it. The project's impact on the region and the country is expected to be significant.
The construction of the refinery is expected to take about 40 months. With the project's progress, Kenyans are watching closely to see how it will unfold and whether it will meet its projected goals. The government's commitment to ensuring the project's success and addressing the concerns of the citizens will be crucial in determining its outcome.
Key points
- Kalonzo Musyoka supports the Dangote refinery project, emphasizing the need for transparency and due process.
- The Sh2.2 trillion Dangote refinery project aims to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil a day and create tens of thousands of jobs.
- The project has attracted scrutiny over land rights, compensation, and environmental concerns, as well as crude supply issues.
