Diplomatic blunder as Suluhu openly reprimands Ruto over 'Tanga refinery' gaffe

Ruto's clarification came during the Kenya-Tanzania Business Forum at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam on Monday, May 4, 2026, where Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan raised concerns over the announcement.

While her speech opened with familiar language on bilateral cooperation, it was a brief, unscripted moment, barely 20 seconds, that shifted the tone in the room.

In a subtle tone, a pointed broadside delivered in Kiswahili, Suluhu publicly questioned Ruto’s announcement of plans to construct an oil refinery in Tanga without her government’s knowledge.

“While we were speaking inside, I pressed Ruto and asked him: you went ahead and announced a refinery in Tanga - why was I not aware? He will explain, himself, why he made that announcement,” she said, drawing attention to Ruto's comments at the Kenya Mining Investment Conference and Expo in Nairobi on April 28.

The mega oil project is expected to involve Uganda and business interests linked to Nigerian billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote, who promised to build an oil refinery in the region.

In his remarks, Ruto acknowledged the concerns. “I have been informed that my decision to announce the building of a refinery in Tanga has not sat well with you (Tanzanians). If I knew, I would have announced that refinery to be built in Mombasa,” he stated.

The Kenyan head of state said the project presented a significant opportunity for the region. “The building of a refinery is a big opportunity for business, a big opportunity for industrialisation,” he added, noting that Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Sudan stand to benefit.

He also emphasised the need to position Tanga as both a refining hub and a centre for mineral processing.

“It is no longer sustainable for us to export raw materials. As a region, we must deliberately avoid exporting value, jobs and opportunities. Instead, we must retain and utilise them locally. That is the future of our development,” Ruto said.

Turning to the Tanzanian public, he also struck a conciliatory tone: “The good people of Tanzania, you’re very lucky that we are discussing how to build a refinery in Tanga,” a line that drew brief applause, largely from the Kenyan delegation.

Ruto also called for an end to what he described as “unnecessary suspicion” between the two countries, underscoring the need for trust and cooperation in resolving persistent disputes.

Ruto had first floated the refinery idea at the Kenya Mining Investment Conference and Expo in Nairobi on April 28, 2026, saying the four countries had agreed in principle to develop a shared refinery. 

“We’re going to have a joint refinery in Tanga to benefit all of us because that refinery is going to take on board the oil from DRC, the oil from Kenya, the oil from South Sudan, and the oil from Uganda,” he said at an infrastructure financing conference attended by both the Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni and Nigerian oil baron Aliko Dangote.

“We have made the decision that we are going to do this together. We are going to harness the synergies of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Sudan… so that we can have one big refinery here,” he disclosed.

The initiative aligns with plans by Aliko Dangote to construct a refinery in Tanga. 

Dangote had urged Ruto and Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni to support a similar facility to his Nigerian refinery.

Ruto dismissed reports suggesting the plan would affect Uganda’s Hoima refinery project. “There was no headache, for heaven’s sake. How does three countries coming together to build one piece of infrastructure amount to a headache?” he said.

With oil exploration ongoing in Kenya’s Turkana region following the discovery of over 560 million barrels, the push for local refining is aimed at reducing the export of raw crude and increasing value addition.

Ruto criticised the current export model. “The private sector has made it clear that the continued export of raw materials results in exporting jobs, opportunities and wealth, while importing inflation."

He confirmed that engagements with Tanzanian authorities are ongoing to ensure coordinated use of regional resources. 

The initiative also extends to mining and renewable energy as part of a broader industrialisation strategy within the region.