Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote’s $16 billion oil refinery project in Lamu, Kenya, faces fresh legal opposition over undisclosed details about the venture. The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) filed a petition with the Public Private Partnerships Petition Committee, alleging that critical information regarding the refinery has not been made public.
Stephen Mutoro, COFEK’s Secretary General, shared the development in a post on X, revealing that the group wants any approvals that do not comply with transparency and participation requirements to be annulled and reconsidered. The petition demands disclosure of the government’s plan to take a stake in the refinery, including specifics about the acquisition vehicle, share class, payment terms, and proof of public consultation.
This challenge adds to existing hurdles for the refinery, which is designed to process 700,000 barrels of oil per day. More than 130 residents have already filed a lawsuit claiming that the land in Lamu, where the refinery is being built, is their ancestral heritage. A hearing on that case is scheduled for October 14.
A spokesperson for the Dangote Group declined to comment on the COFEK petition. The Kenyan government had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
Dangote launched construction on the refinery this past Wednesday. He dismissed the land rights lawsuit, saying: “Anybody who wants to cause trouble, we are ready.” The project is modeled after Dangote Group’s refinery in Nigeria, which also has a 700,000-barrel-per-day capacity.
The billionaire has offered regional governments a combined 30% stake in the Lamu refinery. The plant is expected to be completed by 2030.
The dispute brings into focus questions about transparency and community rights in one of East Africa’s largest infrastructure projects.
According to Joy Online.
