Picnews
Kenyan presidential aspirant Patrick Osoi has threatened to oppose Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote’s proposed $16 billion oil refinery project in Kenya if he wins the country’s 2027 presidential election, arguing that local investors should take the lead in developing the facility.
Osoi made his position known while addressing supporters at a Lions Movement event, where he questioned the need for Kenya to depend on the Nigerian industrialist for a major investment in its petroleum sector.
In a video that circulated online, the presidential hopeful urged Dangote not to rush the project, insisting that Kenyan businesspeople possessed the capacity to establish a refinery.
He maintained that his proposed administration would prioritise domestic investors, although he did not provide details of how a locally driven alternative would be financed or implemented.
Dangote’s proposed refinery is planned for Lamu County on Kenya’s coast, with a projected processing capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The $16 billion project is intended to serve Kenya and other East African markets, potentially reducing the region’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
Dangote and Kenyan President William Ruto attended the project’s groundbreaking ceremony on September 30, 2026, signalling progress towards the development of the facility.
The investment is expected to expand regional refining capacity and create opportunities for economic activity. However, the project has also encountered legal challenges involving land ownership, compensation and environmental concerns.
A Kenyan court has ordered parties involved in a land dispute connected to the project to maintain the status quo pending further proceedings, adding a legal dimension to the development.
Osoi’s comments introduce another political consideration into discussions surrounding the refinery, particularly the debate over foreign investment and the participation of domestic businesses in major industrial projects.
His opposition, however, remains a campaign position and does not in itself mean the project has been cancelled. Any future decision concerning the investment would depend on the relevant legal, regulatory and governmental processes.
The proposed refinery remains a major development in Kenya’s energy sector, with its future carrying potential implications for regional fuel supplies, industrial growth and investment relations across Africa.
