Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has made a public claim that a request he filed seeking disclosure of key details surrounding the proposed Lamu oil refinery has been blocked from reaching the Senate floor. The request, dated October 2, 2026, sought a statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Energy regarding the proposed construction of the refinery in Lamu County. Sifuna's move is aimed at obtaining information on the project, including public participation, financing, and implementation details.
Sifuna's request specifically asked the committee to compel the production of records relating to the project, including details on public participation, its financing and implementation model, the amount to be borne by Kenyan taxpayers, value-for-money assessments, and the beneficial owners of firms involved in its implementation. The senator argued that a project of such scale should comply with constitutional requirements on transparency, accountability, public participation, sustainable development, and management of public finances.
On Wednesday, Sifuna claimed that the request had failed to secure approval to proceed to the Senate floor, accusing government allies in Parliament of frustrating attempts to obtain information on major State-backed projects. He expressed his concerns about the handling of his request, suggesting that the government's reluctance to disclose information is due to a lack of transparency.
Sifuna's remarks amount to an allegation about how the request was handled in Parliament. According to the document, the statement was received by the Senate on October 2, but it does not establish why it did not proceed to the floor. The senator's comments have sparked debate about the level of transparency and accountability in the handling of major projects.
The senator's concerns are centered on the proposed Lamu oil refinery, a project that has significant implications for Kenya's energy sector and economy. Sifuna's request for information is part of his efforts to ensure that the project is implemented in a transparent and accountable manner.
Sifuna also took a swipe at the government's approach to information disclosure, citing President Ruto's advice to use 'formal channels' to obtain documents held by the state. The senator suggested that the President's approach is undermined by the reluctance of Parliament's gatekeepers to approve requests for information.
The issue has raised questions about the effectiveness of Parliament's oversight role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the implementation of major projects. Sifuna has vowed to continue pushing for transparency and accountability, calling for a change in the system in 2027 to rescue the country from what he perceives as a lack of transparency.
Key points
- Sifuna claims a request for information on the proposed Lamu oil refinery was blocked by Parliament allies.
- The request sought details on public participation, financing, and implementation of the project.
- Sifuna accuses government allies of frustrating attempts to obtain information on major State-backed projects.
