Environmental activists in Kenya concerned over billionaire’s planned oil refinery

The choice of Lamu, Kenya, by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote for his proposed $17 billion oil refinery has sparked a range of reactions. On one hand, environmental activists are raising concerns about the potential risks the project might pose to the local ecosystem and the livelihoods of the community. On the other hand, the Kenyan government is emphasizing the economic benefits the refinery could bring to the region.

Following months of uncertainty regarding the location of the project in Kenya, Uganda, or Tanzania, Dangote Industries Limited's vice president Devakumar Edwin confirmed to Reuters that the refinery, with a capacity to refine up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily, will be operational within three years. The oil for this refinery would reportedly be sourced from within East Africa.

Completion of the project would result in a facility similar to Dangote Industries' existing refinery in Lagos, Nigeria, which is the largest oil refinery in Africa.

Kenyan President William Ruto, in a statement in July, announced a deal between Kenya and Dangote to establish the refinery in Lamu. He highlighted the potential benefits for East and Central Africa, as well as the creation of approximately 60,000 jobs during the construction phase and afterwards. The President made this announcement on July 8, 2026, according to a report from the Public Service Commission.

However, amidst these announcements, environmental activists have been pushing for transparency and robust community engagement, expressing their worries about the potential environmental impacts of the refinery.