Gov't defends Lamu refinery land acquisition, warns against politicising Ebola

Speaking during a press briefing at Harambee Annex on Monday, October 12, 2026, Owino said the government was aware of protests that followed the project's groundbreaking ceremony, with some individuals claiming they had not been compensated for their land.

According to Owino, approximately 28,199 hectares of land had been allocated to the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) for the development, which is expected to include major port infrastructure

He said the project is designed to accommodate approximately 32 berths for docking ships, with KPA having already developed three while Dangote is expected to construct five additional berths.

Owino explained that about 90 families initially occupied the land before the government initiated a compensation and relocation exercise.

He said KPA subsequently transferred Ksh.1.4 billion to the National Land Commission (NLC) to facilitate compensation for the affected families.

The government spokesperson maintained that the families were compensated and relocated, although the land title remained under the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project.

Owino further claimed that there were no legitimate outstanding compensation claims over the land in Mukowe, alleging that individuals currently holding titles to the property were relying on fraudulent documents.

He said the courts had already pronounced themselves on the ownership dispute, adding that investigations would establish whether any irregularities occurred while the land remained under LAPSSET.

On the imported Ebola case reported in Kenya, Owino dismissed allegations circulating in the public domain that the government was exploiting the disease to solicit funding.

He urged politicians and members of the public to refrain from politicising the country's response to the disease, maintaining that international cooperation on public health matters forms part of established disease surveillance mechanisms.

Owino said health emergencies should be handled responsibly, warning against political statements that could undermine public confidence in disease surveillance and response efforts.

Meanwhile, Owino announced that this year's Mashujaa Day celebrations will be held at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret on October 20, 2026.

The national celebrations will be jointly hosted by Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.

According to the government spokesperson, the arrangement is intended to promote sports development and create business opportunities across the three counties.

He said the celebrations will be held under the theme of sports, security and finance, calling on Kenyans to turn out in large numbers.

The briefing also addressed a livestock shooting incident in Samburu County, although further details were not immediately available.