President William Ruto has finalized critical talks in New York to advance the construction of a Sh2.2 trillion mega oil refinery in Lamu, marking one of the largest private energy investments in East African history.
The deal was made in a sideline meeting at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where President Ruto, Nigerian billionaire and Dangote Group CEO Aliko Dangote, and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Chief Executive Officer Samaila Zubairu attended.
Deliberations of the meeting centered on establishing the final financial structure and finalizing logistical preparations for the East Africa Refinery project, which is officially scheduled for groundbreaking on September 30, 2026 in Lamu.
Designed to process a capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily, the state-of-the-art facility is projected to generate up to 60,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Speaking following the discussions in the United States, the president highlighted the strategic imperative of the mega project, framing it as an essential cornerstone for the region’s long-term economic independence.
“We are ready to break ground on the East Africa refinery in Lamu, a transformative project that will enhance the region’s energy security, deepen local value addition, create jobs, and advance our industrialization agenda,” stated the President.
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The Kenyan Head of State further noted that the strategic partnership will solidify East Africa’s position as a competitive global energy player and boost supply chain resilience across neighboring landlocked partner states.
Accompanying the delegation, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi emphasized that the multi-trillion-shilling investment aligns directly with state policies aimed at empowering Kenyan youth through specialized technical employment and skills transfer.
Beyond refining imported crude, the multi-faceted project will integrate plans for a crude oil pipeline linking Turkana’s oil fields directly to the Coast.
Political commentators and regional leaders have widely lauded the initiative, noting that bringing Dangote’s largest refining venture outside Nigeria to Lamu will instantly transform the coastal region into a primary industrial hub.
Prominent figures online celebrated the economic breakthrough, pointing out that an investment of this scale under the LAPSSET corridor framework will stimulate secondary markets, maritime commerce, and local infrastructural expansion.
As final preparations conclude ahead of the September 30 launch, the government maintains that the facility will reduce Kenya’s reliance on expensive imported refined fuel and guarantee stable domestic energy costs.
