Kenyans React as Ruto’s Govt Hints at Handing Control of Lamu Refinery to Gachagua or Nyoro

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended the proposed Dangote East Africa Oil Refinery, saying the main issue should be the economic impact the project will create for Kenya.

Mbadi made the remarks as questions continued over the ownership of the multibillion-shilling refinery being developed in Lamu County.

“If the whole refinery can be owned by Ndindi Nyoro or Gachagua or whoever, it is okay, so long as it is going to create the kind of economic impact that we want for this country,” Mbadi said.

His comments came amid growing demands for the ownership structure of the project to be made public. People’s Party of Kenya leader Ndindi Nyoro has called for the names of shareholders in the Kenyan company behind the refinery to be disclosed.

The project was officially launched in Lamu on September 30, with President William Ruto and Dangote Group chairman Aliko Dangote attending the groundbreaking ceremony.

The refinery is expected to cost about KSh2.2 trillion and process around 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day once completed.

Mbadi has said the project could create opportunities in construction, transport, logistics, engineering, security, ICT and other sectors. He also linked it to jobs, local businesses, manufacturing and stronger foreign-exchange earnings.

The government has said Kenya will acquire a stake in the refinery, while President Ruto has stated that ordinary Kenyans will have an opportunity to buy shares through the Nairobi Securities Exchange.

At the same time, the project continues to face scrutiny over ownership, land and compensation. A court has ordered parties to maintain the status quo on disputed land in Lamu, with the case scheduled for October 14.

The latest debate has therefore placed both economic benefits and transparency at the centre of discussions about the refinery.

Title–Master [email protected]