Ruto: Kenya, Dangote agree on Turkana-Lamu oil pipeline

Kenyan President William Ruto has announced an agreement with Aliko Dangote for an oil pipeline linking Turkana to Lamu, allowing Kenya to transport its crude oil to the port regardless of production volumes. Speaking in Mombasa, Ruto stated that extraction of Turkana oil is set to begin by December. The pipeline will be constructed on government land, with 9,000 acres already secured in Lamu and an additional 3,000 acres planned for acquisition.

The administration also plans to establish a Special Economic Zone covering approximately 5,000 acres. Ruto estimated that the project could contribute around 12 percent to the country's GDP and attract foreign direct investment (FDI) of $6 billion to $7 billion. The Kenyan government has also pledged to ensure that no minerals leave the country unprocessed, prioritizing the rights of Kenyan citizens in the mining sector.

President Ruto assured that he will return to the Coast region before December to address the long-standing squatter issue, aiming to significantly resolve it by 2027. He highlighted that over 300,000 Kenyans are employed through online platforms, ICT hubs, Jitume labs, and Business Process Outsourcing centers, and 680,000 young Kenyans have secured jobs abroad in the past three to four years.

Ruto urged more youth to utilize the National Employment Authority to access overseas opportunities. The administration has also established an Anti-Narcotics Unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, providing them with sufficient vehicles to enhance their capacity to combat drug trafficking.