Duale defends Ruto, challenges opposition over Dangote Refinery scrutiny

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale speaking at the Imam Malik Islamic Centre

Health CS Aden Duale has defended President William Ruto amid growing scrutiny of the government’s agreement with Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote over the proposed Sh2 trillion-plus oil refinery project in Lamu.

Duale criticised what he described as unnecessary noise around the investment, saying the project demonstrated growing confidence in Kenya under the Ruto administration.

Speaking in Garissa town on Saturday, where he presided over the official opening of new boarding facilities and academic infrastructure at the Imam Malik Islamic Centre, Duale linked Dangote’s investment to what he described as improved investor confidence under the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“When President William Ruto became president in 2022, at that time, the foreign direct investment stood at $1.6 billion. Today, four years later, it has increased to $3.2 billion,” Duale said.

He attributed the increase to what he described as an improved business environment and government efforts to eliminate intermediaries, cartels and corruption, which he said had discouraged foreign investors from putting their money into Kenya.

“He has doubled it because he has provided a good environment and investor confidence. He has removed brokers, cartels and corruption that had discouraged foreign investors from coming to Kenya and investing,” he said.

Duale also criticised those questioning aspects of the Dangote project, saying similar scrutiny should be applied to other major infrastructure and commercial arrangements in the country.

“Now that Dangote has come, the same cartels are making a lot of noise,” he said.

He specifically challenged Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and other critics to disclose the ownership of the Nairobi Expressway, arguing that those seeking details about the Dangote project should also raise questions about ownership structures in other major projects.

“I want Ndindi and his team to tell us who the shareholders of the Expressway are,” Duale said.

“Who are the owners of the Expressway?” he posed, challenging those scrutinising the Dangote project to apply similar scrutiny to other major investments.

His remarks came as Nyoro intensified calls for the government to disclose the agreement, including the ownership and shareholding structure of the proposed Dangote East Africa Refinery.

Speaking in Kirinyaga during the funeral of Mwalimu Jackson Karua on Saturday, Nyoro gave President Ruto 14 days to make the agreement public, arguing that Kenyans had a right to scrutinise arrangements relating to the project.

Nyoro said Kenyans welcomed the investment but maintained that greater transparency was needed on the arrangements underpinning the project.

The demands have increased scrutiny of the proposed refinery’s ownership structure, land arrangements and any financial obligations that may arise from the agreement.

The exchange came days after President Ruto and Dangote formally broke ground for the proposed refinery in Lamu on September 30.

The project, estimated at $16 billion, or more than Sh2 trillion, is designed to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and is expected to be completed around 2030. Reuters has described it as Kenya’s largest-ever foreign direct investment, with the project intended to supply petroleum products to Kenya and other countries in the region.

The complex is expected to include a refinery, petrochemical facilities and a 1,000-megawatt power plant. Engineering and technology firms have been brought into the project, with Engineers India Limited and Honeywell Technologies securing contracts.

The project is also expected to create tens of thousands of jobs during construction and generate opportunities in transport, logistics, manufacturing and related industries.

The government has indicated that Kenya will have a 10 per cent allocation in the refinery, while regional governments have been offered up to 30 per cent collectively.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has said Kenya could increase its stake if other participating East African governments do not take up their allocations.

President Ruto has also said the government has agreed with Dangote to facilitate the development of a pipeline linking Turkana oil fields to Lamu, while Kenya could supplement its crude supply with imports from other countries.

Despite the government’s emphasis on the potential economic benefits of the investment, opposition figures have maintained that greater transparency is necessary.

There are also separate legal proceedings concerning land earmarked for the refinery.

The Environment and Lands Court in Malindi has ordered parties to maintain the status quo over a disputed parcel pending an inter partes hearing scheduled for October 14. The dispute involves residents who have raised questions about land ownership and compensation.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale with Muslim religious leaders at Imam Malik Islamic Centre. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Muslim faithful from Garissa during the official opening of new boarding facilities and academic infrastructure at the Imam Malik Islamic Centre. /STEPHEN ASTARIKOHealth Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale with Muslim religious leaders at Imam Malik Islamic Centre. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO