Nigerian
billionaire Aliko Dangote and Kenyan President William Ruto have officially
broken ground on a historic $16 billion (£12 billion) oil refinery in Lamu. Designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil
daily by 2030, this landmark project stands as East Africa’s largest industrial
undertaking to date and Kenya's biggest infrastructure project since
independence.
The
ceremony attracted regional leaders from Uganda, Ethiopia, Togo, and Benin,
with Dangote offering neighboring governments a combined 30% stake. Both Dangote and President Ruto framed the initiative
as a defining moment for self-funded African development.
However,
the ambitious project faces stiff local pushback. Residents demanding land compensation and
environmental advocacy groups, like Save Lamu, have raised serious concerns
about ecological safeguards. While Dangote dismissed the protests, a group of 133
residents secured a High Court order temporarily halting excavation work
pending an October 14 hearing.
