Sifuna hits back at Ruto over demand for Dangote refinery documents

Senator Edwin Sifuna has responded to President William Ruto's request for documents related to the Dangote oil refinery deal in Lamu. Sifuna defended Kenyans' constitutional right to access information held by the State, citing Article 35(1) and Article 35(3) of the Constitution. According to Sifuna, disclosure of important information affecting the nation is a constitutional requirement, not a discretionary decision made by an individual.

He criticized the secretive nature of government transactions and called for transparency in major deals involving the State. Sifuna's remarks come amid a renewed debate over the transparency of government dealings with private investors and the disclosure of documents related to the Dangote refinery and oil importation arrangements.

President Ruto defended the demands, stating they were not extortion schemes but necessary to protect the Sh2.2 trillion refinery investment in Lamu from potential threats. He warned against a cabal of political leaders attempting to frustrate the Nigerian industrialist, Aliko Dangote, and vowed to safeguard the investment from extortion and court cases.