MPs questions speed of Dangote refinery development in Lamu

Among those raising questions is Tetu Member of Parliament Geoffrey Wandeto, who said the speed at which the project has advanced raises questions about whether all necessary processes have been followed. 

“The speed at which things are moving from two months ago, when we were talking about taking the project to Tanga, then the Tanzanians disowned us after that we had the president meet with Ariko Dangote, and two or three months down the line we have a groundbreaking of a Ksh. 2 trillion project, perhaps the single largest single project,” Wandeto explained in an interview at Citizen TV.

He described the project as an ‘ambush’ to almost all Kenyans, with questions like who the owners are and why the project had not gone through parliament arising.

“This refinery is a big story this week because to almost all of us Kenyans it is technically an ambush of information,” said Wandeto.

Wandeto also expressed concerns that there could be significant roadblocks ahead.

Senator Dan Maanzo of Makueni County backed the concerns, saying that the deal was too good.

“When a deal sounds too good, think twice. This deal is looking too good to be real for the country,” said Maanzo, who also claimed that he believed that the refinery was part of William Ruto’s big campaign.

This comes as the project continues to face backlash, including from Lamu residents, who moved to court seeking to stop what they describe as the unlawful takeover and destruction of their ancestral land.

The Ksh. 2 trillion oil refinery, which will be located in Kililana, Lamu County, is expected to produce a Capacity of 700,000 barrels per day and create 60,000 local jobs.