After Nigeria, Aliko Dangote is turning to Kenya. The billionaire is due to lay the foundation stone for his new mega-refinery in Lamu, on Kenya’s northeastern coast, on Wednesday, September 30. But the $15–16 billion project is already facing a legal challenge, after 133 members of a neighbouring community petitioned a court to contest its construction.
The refinery is expected to eventually process nearly 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day, a capacity comparable to Dangote’s refinery in Lekki, on the outskirts of Lagos, Nigeria.
Kenyan farmers and residents from Chandavai, in Lamu County, argue that the project threatens their land rights and ancestral heritage. Their families have lived and farmed on the land for generations.
Construction suspended
The plaintiffs fear forced evictions and the destruction of properties, arguing that no resettlement plan has been put in place.
They also point to Kenya’s environmental regulations, which generally require projects of this scale to undergo an environmental impact assessment before construction begins.
On Tuesday, September 29, a court issued an initial order suspending work on the proposed refinery pending further consideration of the case. The matter is scheduled to return to court on October 14.
The Dangote Group, however, says the legal proceedings will not disrupt Wednesday’s official groundbreaking ceremony.
The event is expected to bring together several African heads of state and will be presided over by Kenyan President William Ruto, a strong supporter of the refinery project.
The legal dispute now adds uncertainty to a project that Kenya sees as a major potential investment in its energy sector, while local communities continue to raise concerns over land rights and environmental safeguards.
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