Kenyan Presidential Aspirant Threatens to Send Dangote Back to Nigeria Over $16bn Refinery

Kenyan presidential aspirant Patrick Osoi has opposed Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote’s proposed $16 billion oil refinery in Kenya, insisting that local investors have the capacity to undertake the project.

Osoi made his position known while addressing supporters at a Lions Movement event, where he urged Dangote not to rush into developing the refinery in the coastal county of Lamu.

The presidential hopeful said he would prioritise Kenyan businesses and investors if elected in the country’s 2027 presidential election.

“I want to tell Aliko Dangote, please don’t rush to start the refinery because, when I’m sworn in as President of Kenya next year, you will be heading back to Nigeria,” Osoi said in a video circulating online.

He argued that Kenyan entrepreneurs could establish and operate a refinery without depending on the Nigerian industrialist, although he did not provide details of how such a project would be financed or implemented.

Dangote’s proposed refinery is expected to have a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day, making it one of the major planned energy investments in East Africa.

The project is designed to supply petroleum products to Kenya and neighbouring countries, strengthen regional refining capacity and reduce dependence on imported fuel.

Dangote and Kenyan President William Ruto performed the project’s groundbreaking ceremony in Lamu on September 30, 2026. Construction is expected to take approximately 40 months, with completion targeted around 2030.

The refinery forms part of Dangote’s broader expansion strategy across Africa and the Kenyan government’s plans to attract large-scale industrial investment, create jobs and improve energy security.

However, the project has encountered opposition over land ownership, compensation and environmental concerns. A Kenyan court has also issued an order maintaining the status quo in a land dispute involving the proposed development.

Osoi’s comments add a political dimension to the debate over foreign investment and local participation in Kenya’s industrial development.

While he has pledged to favour domestic investors, his remarks do not establish whether a Kenyan-led alternative could match the proposed refinery’s scale, financing requirements and technical demands.

The project’s future will depend on its financing, regulatory approvals, resolution of legal disputes and progress towards construction.