Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended the planned Dangote Lamu oil refinery, arguing that the project is beneficial for Kenya. Mbadi also alleged that people calling for compensation are part of land cartels seeking to defraud the government through fraudulent land acquisitions. He further defended President William Ruto, dismissing allegations that the president holds shares in the Ksh.2 trillion refinery.
Speaking in response to recent protests by some Lamu residents, Mbadi said the demonstrations stem from claims of alleged non-compensation and insufficient public participation in the construction of the East Africa Oil Refinery plant in Lamu County. He dismissed the complaints as “primitive politics,” adding that it is unfortunate for politics to unfold around such a major investment, even by those in opposition.
Mbadi said Lamu residents took part in a public participation exercise carried out by the relevant agencies ahead of the groundbreaking on Wednesday. He accused land cartels and brokers of trying to derail and hijack the land acquisition process and argued that they were seeking to profit from the exercise. “Brokers are trying to con the government…how do you ask for Ksh.30 million for a plot valued at Ksh.60,000?” Mbadi said.
Mbadi also dismissed claims by some opposition leaders that President William Ruto holds shares in the oil refinery. “Ruto doesn’t have any shares…you can check on Dangote Group listing. If anything, 30% of the shareholding will be open to the EA region,” he added. CS Mbadi’s comments came after allegations by People’s Party of Kenya (PPK) leader Ndindi Nyoro, who claimed that influential figures connected to government were trying to secure shares in the refinery for personal gain.
ODM party leader Oburu Oginga also weighed in on the Ksh2.2 trillion project, urging residents of Lamu and the wider Coast region to resist efforts to sabotage the planned Dangote oil refinery. He described the refinery as a potential game-changer for the region’s economy. “We must collectively tell off the political detractors, professional algorithmic complainers, and agents of poverty who want to derail this impactful project for selfish, short-sighted gains,” Oburu said in a statement.
Oburu said the 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery will open a path for Kenya’s economic growth and help the country strengthen its position as a continental powerhouse. In his remarks, he described the project as “a structural revolution” that would permanently reshape the economic future of Lamu County and the wider Coast region. He added that efforts to block the refinery amounted to a “weaponised” move by “agents of poverty” determined to keep the region trapped in regression.
Oburu urged residents to welcome the investment, arguing that they will stand to gain the most from the large-scale project. “We have historical experience with naysayers who oppose progress only to leave our youth jobless and our region marginalized. I urge the local community to rise up as the primary guardians of this investment,” he said. He also called on locals to reject propaganda and resist attempts to create friction that could drive away the Ksh2.2 trillion refinery.
Key points
- Treasury CS John Mbadi defends the Ksh.2 trillion Dangote Lamu oil refinery.
- Mbadi dismisses claims of President Ruto holding shares in the refinery.
- Oburu Oginga urges Lamu residents to support the refinery project.
