Dr. Fred Matiang'i, a Jubilee presidential aspirant, has begun a five-day tour of the Coast Region. During a press conference, he called for transparency in the Dangote East African petroleum refinery project in Lamu County. Matiang'i emphasized that details of major agreements involving public resources should be made available for scrutiny. He insisted that legitimate concerns over commercial or national security should not be used to shield agreements from parliamentary oversight.
The Dangote refinery project, with a construction deadline of 40 months, is expected to create 60,000 jobs and has a budget of Sh2.2 trillion. However, the project has faced questions over the disclosure of government agreements and the state's stake in the project. Matiang'i warned that using commercial or security concerns to shield agreements could be abused by the executive. He stressed that relevant contracts should be submitted to the appropriate parliamentary committees.
Matiang'i's remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of Kenya's petroleum arrangements. The proposed refinery has raised concerns about transparency and the state's involvement in the project. The Jubilee Party has announced a political partnership with Kadu Asili ahead of the 2027 general election. The alliance aims to address long-standing issues affecting the Coast region, including land rights and squatters, mining concessions, and employment opportunities.
Kadu Asili leader, Muzo Nzili, endorsed Matiang'i's presidential bid, citing his record as Education Cabinet Secretary. Nzili described Matiang'i as a leader capable of addressing political marginalization at the Coast. Nzili, the former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) national chairman, said the alliance would focus on addressing regional issues.
Matiang'i welcomed the partnership, saying Jubilee's approach is to unite different opposition parties. He pledged to support the proposed Coast Region Integrated Development Plan for 2027 to 2037, which would provide a framework for addressing infrastructure and economic priorities in the region. Matiang'i also mentioned that opposition parties are in consultations on presenting a common leadership team in the 2027 elections.
The Coast Region has faced long-standing issues, including land rights and squatters, mining concessions in Mrima, and marine and blue economy resources. The region also faces challenges related to employment opportunities at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and other public organizations. Matiang'i's partnership with Kadu Asili aims to address these issues.
Matiang'i's call for transparency in the Dangote deal and his partnership with Kadu Asili reflect his efforts to engage with regional issues and promote accountability. The 2027 general election is expected to be a significant event, with various political alliances and partnerships being formed.
Key points
- Dr. Fred Matiang'i demands transparency in the Dangote East African petroleum refinery project.
- Kadu Asili endorses Matiang'i's presidential bid for the 2027 general election.
- The Dangote refinery project has a budget of Sh2.2 trillion and is expected to create 60,000 jobs.
