RUTO SEEKS DANGOTE’S SUPPORT FOR $1.7BN LAMU REFINERY PROJECT

Kenyan President William Ruto is set to meet Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote in New York as Kenya seeks to advance plans for a major oil refinery in Lamu. The proposed project, valued at about KSh2.2 trillion, is expected to have a processing capacity of up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The meeting with Dangote comes as Kenya explores private-sector participation in the project.

The discussions are expected to focus on investment opportunities and the possible involvement of Dangote in the refinery, either as an investor or strategic partner. For Kenya, the proposed refinery is part of efforts to strengthen domestic energy supply and reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum products. The government also expects the project to support employment and industrial activity in the coastal region.

The planned facility could also serve markets beyond Kenya, positioning Lamu as a potential petroleum and logistics hub for East Africa. The project is expected to require major supporting infrastructure, including transport links, port facilities and energy infrastructure. Its development will also depend on financing, regulatory approvals, crude supply and environmental considerations.

For Dangote, whose business interests span manufacturing, energy and infrastructure, involvement in the project could further expand Nigeria’s private-sector footprint in Africa’s industrial development. The proposed Lamu refinery therefore brings together two important strands of Africa’s economic integration: Kenya’s drive for industrial and energy development and the growing role of African private capital in large infrastructure projects.

President Ruto and Dangote are expected to discuss the project alongside wider investment talks during engagements in New York. If the discussions lead to a concrete partnership, the project could create another channel for Nigeria–Kenya business cooperation, while supporting Kenya’s ambition to build a stronger regional energy industry.