The High Court in Nairobi has certified as urgent a petition seeking full disclosure of details surrounding the proposed Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals project in Lamu County. In directions issued on October 6, 2026, Justice David Mburu ordered the petitioner to physically serve the application, petition and court directions on the respondents and interested parties within two days. This move comes amid growing concerns and separate legal challenges to the project.
The Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals project, estimated to cost Sh2 trillion, is planned for Magogoni, within the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) corridor. The project, which was expected to break ground on September 30, 2026, is designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily and will include an integrated 1,000-megawatt power plant. Completion of the project is targeted around 2030.
The petitioner in the certified urgent case has been ordered to file and serve the application and petition on the respondents and interested parties. The respondents and interested parties have seven days from service to file and serve their responses to the application and petition. The petitioner may file a rejoinder, if necessary, alongside written submissions on the application within 14 days of receiving the responses.
In a separate case filed at the Malindi Environment and Land Court, 133 residents of the Chandavai area of Lamu County are seeking to stop the project over fears of displacement and alleged failure to compensate them. Justice Jane Onyango ordered the maintenance of the status quo on the project land pending a determination of the matter on October 14. This order did not stop the September 30 groundbreaking ceremony but barred immediate land clearing and excavation.
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote and President William Ruto presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of the Dangote refinery project on September 30. Dangote dismissed concerns over court challenges, saying legal disputes and construction halts were normal in doing business in Africa. “Anybody who wants to cause trouble, we’re ready for them,” he said, signalling his resolve to proceed with the investment despite the legal hurdles.
President Ruto labelled critics and individuals trying to stop the oil refinery project as "brokers" and "matapeli" (swindlers), warning that his administration would not allow them to sabotage the investment. The President's comments reflect the government's support for the project, which is seen as a major energy investment in the region.
The court has scheduled the matter for mention on November 12 to confirm compliance with the directions and issue further orders. The November 12 mention will establish whether the parties have complied with the prescribed timelines and what further steps the case will take. The court's decision will be crucial in determining the future of the Dangote refinery project.
Key points
- The Kenyan High Court has certified a petition seeking full disclosure of details on the Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals project as urgent.
- The project, estimated to cost Sh2 trillion, aims to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily and include an integrated 1,000-megawatt power plant.
- Separate legal challenges have been filed against the project, including one by 133 residents of Lamu County over fears of displacement and alleged failure to compensate them.
