President William Ruto has said Kenyans will be given an opportunity to buy shares in the planned Sh2 trillion Dangote East Africa Refinery in Lamu, as he defended the mega project against attempts he says are aimed at frustrating investors.
Ruto said the government will also take a stake in the refinery, with part of the ownership eventually opened to the public through the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).
“The refinery investment is open and transparent,” Ruto said while speaking in Kilifi on Tuesday.
He warned individuals he accused of imposing unreasonable conditions on investors, saying such demands risk driving capital away from Kenya and slowing economic growth.
“They cannot stop this project. I will make sure it succeeds,” he said.
The President argued that investors should be offered incentives rather than subjected to demands that make it harder to establish large-scale projects in the country.
“Investors need incentives, not conditions,” he said.
The planned refinery, being developed by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote’s group, is expected to process about 700,000 barrels of crude oil a day and serve the wider East African market. Its groundbreaking is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30.
The project is, however, facing a land dispute after the Environment and Land Court ordered parties to maintain the status quo on a contested parcel in the Hindi/Manda Magogoni area of Lamu.
The case was filed by 133 residents claiming rights over the land. Dangote Group has said the court order will not stop the ceremonial groundbreaking, although it could affect activities on the disputed site while the matter is before the court.
Ruto, who is on an eight-day tour of the Coast region, also used his Kilifi visit to address the long-running land ownership crisis.
He said the government has allocated Sh10 billion towards resolving land disputes and accelerating surveying and titling across the six Coast counties.
In Kilifi, the President issued 36,000 title deeds to residents at Karisa Maitha Stadium, telling beneficiaries that the government had met the cost and that they should not pay for the documents.
“The land challenges in this region have violated the rights of the people, causing widespread poverty and the spectre of constant evictions,” he said.
Ruto said 300 Lands ministry officials have been deployed to the Coast as the government targets the issuance of 500,000 title deeds by December 2026.
“We are doing this in all the six counties in the Coast. Our officers will be here until all the land is surveyed,” he said.
The President also inspected construction of Mwache Dam in Kinango, Kwale County, saying water security remains a priority for the region.
The dam is expected to supply about 186 million litres of water daily to parts of Kwale and Mombasa once completed.
Ruto further said the government is investing Sh15 billion in the blue economy, including fish landing sites and supporting infrastructure along the Coast.
He cited ongoing investments in Kilifi and Kwale, including fish landing facilities, roads, affordable housing, markets and student hostels.
The President’s Coast tour covers Taita Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa, Tana River and Lamu counties.
Follow our social media pages for breaking news updates, in-depth stories and videos.
news@nairobilens.ke
