Opposition leaders and political parties in Kenya are putting intense pressure on President William Ruto’s government to provide total transparency regarding the planned $16 billion Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Special Economic Zone in Lamu.
The joint initiative, officially kicked off on September 30, 2026, by Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote and President Ruto, was conceived to bolster regional energy security, generate employment, and boost the economy. However, it has triggered serious scrutiny surrounding corporate ownership, land acquisitions, funding mechanisms, and potential public liabilities.
Ndindi Nyoro, the leader of the People’s Party of Kenya (PPK), has issued a 14-day deadline for the government to detail the ownership makeup of the local subsidiary, the exact terms of the land allocation, and any planned funding draws from the National Infrastructure Fund.
Nyoro has publicly questioned the administration’s intentions, cautioning against concealed financial arrangements.
“Na wewe William Ruto, usikasirike tukikuuliza maswali kwa sababu lazima ujibu maswali ya Wakenya, na ukiona huyo jamaa anakasirika mjue kuna kitu yake hapo,” Nyoro stated.
He called for an unedited roster of shareholders, emphasizing his concern that offshore corporate entities might be shielding the identities of local political figures.
“Wakenya wanataka list ya shareholders wa Dangote East Africa Petroleum. Wakenya wakiona shareholders wanajiita watu wa pale UAE ama Dubai, sisi tunajua huyo mtu sio wa Dubai, tunajua ni mtu ako hapa Kenya anaitwa William Ruto na anapita na mali ya Wakenya,” he said.
The administration intends to acquire a 10 percent equity stake in the venture, relying on public resources such as state land and funds from the National Infrastructure Fund.
“We do not want anything for free. We are going to deploy our assets, whether it is land and all the other assets, and we are going to use the National Infrastructure Fund to invest in this refinery,” Ruto said earlier.
Despite these statements, concrete details on how this equity financing will function remain unpublished. Nyoro specifically questioned whether taxpayer-backed land will be swapped for equity and requested the official valuation of such contributions.
Further complicating matters, efforts to capitalize the infrastructure fund with over Ksh200 billion through the sale of state-owned Safaricom shares have hit a legal standstill following court intervention. Additionally, Nyoro raised concerns over 7,000 acres allocated to the project that were previously compensated using public funds.
“Dangote amepewa shamba ya 7,000 acres ambayo imelipiwa na Wakenya kupitia kodi. Wakenya wanauliza, what are we getting in return of the 7,000 acres where taxpayers’ money was used to compensate for the land? Tunataka agreements zote zile serikali imecommit Wakenya ya kununua bidhaa za Dangote refineries na ile bei ambayo wameeka pale…” Nyoro stated.
The land requirements are expected to grow further as development expands across the industrial zone.
Joining the critique, Kenya’s Thirdway Alliance Party formally submitted a request to Attorney-General Dorcas Agik Oduor on October 2, 2026, demanding the full contract and ownership filings associated with the Lamu development. Party leader Dr. Ekuru Aukot cited Article 35 of the Kenyan Constitution and the Access to Information Act of 2016 to ground the request.
On social media, Aukot publicly questioned the wisdom of the arrangement given Nigeria’s existing domestic challenges.
“Btw, Nigeria has serious power problem. Why can’t #Dangote fix his country first before coming to Kenya re oil refinery? We reject this deal,” he wrote.
The Thirdway Alliance’s official letter requested “full access to the agreement or contract executed between the Government of Kenya (or any associated public entity) and the Dangote Group or its project entity, Dangote Refineries Limited SEZ, regarding the Dangote East Africa Refinery and Petrochemicals SEZ located in Lamu.”
The party asked for all executing drafts, schedules, side agreements, or active working drafts if a final agreement is pending.
The request follows public remarks from President Ruto dismissing transparency demands and labeling critics “matapeli”, a Swahili term for fraudsters, accusing them of trying to shakedown the investor.
Responding to this, Thirdway Alliance noted, “Seeking access to public government contracts is an inalienable constitutional right under Article 35. While foreign investment that advances Kenya’s interests is welcome, the public remains fully entitled to scrutinize any contractual commitments made on its behalf.”
The party also asked the Attorney-General to confirm whether the project underwent parliamentary debate, review, or approval, requesting official Hansard transcripts and committee findings where applicable.
“If it was not, state whether the Government considers parliamentary approval necessary and the legal basis for its position, including whether the project is treated as a public-private partnership and creates any public financial liability,” the letter stated.
They urged the government to make all contractual terms accessible online, adding, “Article 35(3) and section 5 of the Act require publication of important public information.”
While recognizing the venture’s financial potential, the party maintained its stance against unvetted government actions, noting, “While we acknowledge the enormous economic benefits that would accrue from the project, we are opposed to any opaque initiatives, as well as initiatives that burden ‘mwananchi’ and go contrary to the spirit of ‘punguzamizigo’.”
Specifically, Thirdway Alliance requested complete records on beneficial owners, active directors, CR12 registry filings for local entities, and corporate structure documentation for overseas participants.
Directing their focus to the Attorney-General’s advisory role, the party added, “Kenya is a constitutional republic, not President Ruto’s personal or private company. As the Government’s principal legal adviser under Article 156, you are requested to advise the President accordingly and ensure that this request is processed immediately.”
The Attorney-General was given a 21-day deadline to respond under Section 9(1) of the Access to Information Act, with the party warning that non-compliance would be treated as an explicit rejection.
Thirdway Alliance also warned of potential legal action: “If the evidence establishes that President Ruto personally directed or maintained an unlawful refusal, Thirdway Alliance Kenya shall immediately commence proceedings against the state now and against him personally after he leaves office.”
While President Ruto maintains that established parliamentary procedures exist for reviewing state contracts, opposition leaders argue that taxpayers have a fundamental right to review major public commitments directly.
For his part, Dangote addressed the political debate during the groundbreaking ceremony, signaling that his team remains prepared for potential legal hurdles as project construction proceeds.
This regional push comes as Dangote continues to expand his broader industrial portfolio across Africa. In May, during an interview with IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop, Dangote announced plans to venture into energy production.
“We are now going into power – 20,000 megawatts,” he stated, contrasting the goal with Nigeria’s current operational generation of roughly 4,000 to 4,500MW out of a 13,000MW installed capacity.
Reflecting on his $20 billion, 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Nigeria, Dangote recalled early skepticism surrounding the project.
“At the time when I started this refinery… I have never ever seen crude oil in my life. People openly said this refinery will never happen,” he said.
