Ruto presides over groundbreaking ceremony for Dangote Oil refinery in Lamu

President William Ruto is expected to preside over the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Dangote East Africa Oil refinery in Lamu today September 30,2026, making this the beginning of Kenya's biggest industrial investments so far.

The ceremony will also bring together regional leaders, Heads of State, government leaders and investors.

The refinery backed by a Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote, is estimated to be KSh2.2 trillion with the refinery estimated to produce about 700,000 barrels in a day.

The project is estimated to take between three to four years so that it will be completed. Developers argue that the refinery will aid in meeting the high demand for petroleum products while reducing reliance on fuel which is imported from outside Africa.

The project will open up job opportunities for Kenyans during operation and construction while also supporting other industries linked to petroleum processing, petrochemicals and logistics.

The refinery is going to strengthen Lamu as an industrial and logistics hub under the LAPPSET corridor. The corridor is for the purpose of connecting the Kenyan Coast with Northern Kenya and the neighbouring countries.

The facility is expected to process crude oil from Kenya's Lokichar oil fields in Turkana and also from other parts of Africa. The refined products will be supplied to the Kenyan market and in the region.

The project has began showing signs of mobilisation with a vessel carrying 2,930 tonnes of machinery and construction equipment which arrived at the Lamu ahead of the big day today.

Dangote also mentioned that the project will enhance regional participation with Kenya and other East African countries being offered some percentage in the stake of the project.

Attention now shifts to the construction phase. The progress of the refinery is being watched closely as Kenya seeks to expand its role in regional energy and industrial development.