Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has welcomed the planned Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery in Lamu, saying the multibillion-shilling investment could create significant employment and business opportunities for Kenyans.
Barasa said the project presents an important opportunity for the country to attract investment while expanding opportunities for skilled professionals, entrepreneurs and businesses that will support the refinery and its wider value chain.
His remarks come shortly after the groundbreaking of the Sh2.1–2.2 trillion refinery in Lamu on September 30, 2026.
The facility is designed to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day, making it one of the largest refinery projects in Africa.
The project is expected to create tens of thousands of jobs, with government estimates putting the wider employment impact at more than 60,000 positions across construction, engineering, logistics, manufacturing and other supporting sectors.
Beyond direct employment, the investment is expected to stimulate demand for services and create opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises in areas such as transport, accommodation, catering, construction, logistics and technical services.
Dangote Group Chairman Aliko Dangote has also announced plans to establish an engineering training school in Lamu, with the programme expected to equip local residents with technical skills relevant to the project.
The refinery forms part of a wider industrial complex that is expected to include petrochemical and chemical manufacturing facilities as well as a power plant, potentially expanding the project’s economic impact beyond petroleum refining.
Barasa’s support adds to growing calls from leaders for the investment to translate into tangible opportunities for Kenyan citizens, particularly young people and local businesses.
