President William Ruto has defended the proposed Sh2.2 trillion Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery in Lamu, hitting back at leaders demanding that the agreement between the government and the investor be made public.
Speaking in Mombasa on Thursday, October 1, 2026, Ruto criticised opponents of the project, arguing that their actions could undermine an investment expected to create jobs and stimulate economic activity in Lamu and the wider region.
The President’s remarks came a day after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna questioned in the Senate why Parliament had not been given access to the agreement governing the refinery project.
Sifuna said lawmakers had not been briefed on the commitments Kenya had made to facilitate the investment and called for greater transparency and parliamentary oversight.
Ruto, however, said leaders seeking to examine the agreement should follow the established parliamentary procedure for obtaining government agreements.
The President also alleged that Sifuna had been sent by former President Uhuru Kenyatta to raise questions about the deal, claiming that those behind the demand were seeking an opportunity to pressure Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote for their own interests.
The claims have not been independently established, and neither Sifuna nor Uhuru Kenyatta’s response to the allegation was cited in the reports reviewed.
The controversy comes as the government moves ahead with the refinery after its groundbreaking in Lamu on September 30.
The facility is planned to have a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and is expected to supply refined petroleum products to Kenya and other East African markets.
The project has also been presented by the government as a major source of employment, industrialisation and regional economic activity.
However, the investment has faced questions from some lawmakers, residents and other stakeholders over issues including public participation, land rights, compensation, environmental safeguards and the terms of the agreement.
