Dangote dares Kenyans, vow Lamu refinery project won’t be halted
He then issued a blunt warning to those seeking to frustrate the project: “Anyone who wants to cause trouble, we are ready for them,”
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has thrown down the gauntlet to Kenyans challenging his planned Sh2 trillion Lamu oil refinery, declaring that neither the latest court battle nor those seeking to frustrate the project will stop his mega investment.
Dangote dared Kenyans seeking to block his planned Sh2 trillion oil refinery in Lamu, declaring that the project will proceed despite a court order directing parties to maintain the status quo on the disputed land.
Dangote, Africa’s richest man and chairman of Dangote Group, dismissed the latest legal challenge as a familiar hurdle, saying his business empire has faced bigger disputes elsewhere on the continent.
He then issued a blunt warning to those seeking to frustrate the project: “Anyone who wants to cause trouble, we are ready for them,” Dangote declared today, in a defiant message that came as a court order cast uncertainty over activities at the refinery site.
Speaking at an investor engagement forum in Nairobi today, Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Dangote said the court order would not derail the refinery’s groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, although some activities at the site could be affected.
Dangote, who is banking on Kenya to host his second 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery, dismissed the legal challenge as a routine African business hurdle and vowed to confront anyone attempting to derail the project.
The billionaire spoke hours after the Malindi Environment and Land Court ordered parties to maintain the “status quo prevailing” on the land earmarked for the refinery until October 14, 2026 when a substantive hearing of the dispute is scheduled.
But Dangote insisted the legal battle would not stop the high-profile groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for tomorrow, September 30, 2026 even as his company admitted that the order could affect activities at the site.
“I’m sure some of you must have seen one court (has) given an order that we shouldn’t do any construction? I said no, no. This is normal for us in Africa. … In fact, this is even small,” Dangote told an investor engagement forum in Nairobi.
His remarks have set the stage for a dramatic showdown between one of Africa’s biggest investors and residents of Chandavai in Lamu, who have gone to court to challenge the occupation and development of land they describe as their ancestral heritage.
The 133 residents claim their families have lived, farmed and carried out other activities on the disputed land for generations and want their claims addressed before the multibillion-shilling project proceeds.
Dangote Group, however, maintained that the court order had not cancelled the groundbreaking ceremony.
“The court has not halted the groundbreaking ceremony of the refinery at this stage. However, activities at the site may be affected by the ruling as both parties are required not to carry out activities until the case is heard on 14th October,” the company said.
Ruto backs Dangote
The escalating land dispute comes as President William Ruto threw his weight behind the refinery, describing Dangote’s investment as a major boost to Kenya’s energy security and industrialisation ambitions.
Ruto visited Dangote’s 700,000-bpd refinery in Lekki, Lagos, on September 25, 2026 and hailed the Nigerian project as evidence of what African governments, investors and financial institutions can achieve through collaboration.
“This huge achievement is a testament to what African governments, investors and financial institutions can do together,” Ruto said.
The president said the proposed Lamu development would improve fuel reliability and security while supporting industrialisation and creating about 60,000 jobs.
He further disclosed plans for a major power component at Lamu, saying the project would generate about 1,000 megawatts from petroleum coke, with approximately 500 megawatts available for sale to the Kenyan Government.
Sh2 trillion gamble
Dangote has put the estimated cost of the Lamu refinery at between $15 billion and $16 billion, with completion targeted for 2030.
The facility is designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily, matching the capacity of Dangote’s flagship refinery outside Lagos, which has helped Nigeria reduce its dependence on imported refined petroleum products and expand its fuel exports.
The Kenyan project is being positioned as a major regional energy hub, despite Kenya currently having no commercial oil production.
But before construction can gather full momentum and Dangote having thrown down the gauntlet to Kenyans challenging his planned Sh2 trillion Lamu oil refinery, declaring that neither the latest court battle nor those seeking to frustrate the project will stop his mega investment, he must navigate the land dispute now before the Malindi court.
