Kenyan presidential candidate Patrick Osoi has urged Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote not to rush the proposed construction of a refinery in Kenya, saying he would rely on local investors to develop the project if elected president next year.
Osoi made the remarks while addressing supporters at a Lions Movement event, where he argued that Kenya had business leaders with the capacity to establish a refinery without depending on foreign investors.
“I want to tell Aliko Dangote, please don’t rush to start the refinery because, when I’m sworn in as President of Kenya next year, you will be heading back to Nigeria,” he said.
“We Kenyans have business people who can start the refinery. We also have business people in this country who can do that job. This is what we stand for. This is the home of all movements,” he added.
The comments come amid plans by Dangote to invest $16 billion in a proposed oil refinery in Lamu, Kenya, with a projected processing capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
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The facility is expected to serve Kenya and other countries in East Africa, potentially expanding regional refining capacity and reducing reliance on imported petroleum products.
Dangote and Kenyan President William Ruto reportedly performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the project on September 30, 2026. Reports surrounding the launch indicate that construction is expected to take approximately 40 months.
However, the project has encountered opposition from some local residents over land ownership, compensation and environmental concerns. A Kenyan court has also ordered parties to maintain the status quo in a land dispute linked to the proposed development.
Osoi’s remarks reflect his stated preference for greater local participation in major industrial projects. However, he did not outline how a potential administration under his leadership would raise the funds or organise the investment required to establish a refinery using Kenyan investors.
The proposed project remains one of the major industrial investments expected to contribute to Africa’s refining capacity and regional energy security.