Key Takeaways:
- Residents in Lamu have protested against the proposed Dangote refinery ahead of Wednesday’s groundbreaking.
- The protesters are demanding compensation and assurances over land they say their families have occupied for generations.
- The KSh2.2 trillion ($17 billion) refinery is expected to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Residents in Lamu County have staged protests against the proposed Dangote East Africa Refinery, a day before President William Ruto is expected to break ground for the KSh2.2 trillion ($17 billion) project.
The protests took place on Tuesday, Sept. 29, as residents raised concerns over land, compensation and community participation ahead of the planned groundbreaking in the Magogoni area of Lamu.
Police were deployed to the area, with local reports saying tear gas was fired to disperse protesters.
The residents are seeking compensation and a resettlement plan, arguing that their families have occupied, cultivated and developed parts of the disputed land for generations.
More than 130 residents have also filed a case at the Malindi Environment and Land Court challenging the development.
Residents challenge land acquisition
The dispute centres on land identified as LR No. 13061 in the Hindi/Manda Magogoni area, where the refinery is planned.
The residents say they have used the land for farming and livestock keeping and have built homes, mosques and shrines there. They argue that their longstanding occupation gives them interests that should be recognised and compensated even though they do not hold formal title deeds.
“We have not known the stand or way forward. We ask the government to provide a way forward,” one resident said during the demonstrations.
The residents allege that government officials and heavy machinery entered parts of the disputed land before the refinery project, while some claim they were not adequately consulted or compensated for damage to crops, trees and other property.
Groundbreaking remains scheduled
The protests come as preparations continue for the refinery’s planned groundbreaking on Wednesday, with Ruto expected to attend alongside Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote.
The Malindi Environment and Land Court has ordered parties to maintain the status quo on the disputed parcel until Oct. 14, when the case will be heard. However, the court did not grant a separate request to stop the Sept. 30 groundbreaking.
Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said Tuesday that the groundbreaking would proceed as planned, despite the court case.
The proposed refinery is expected to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and form part of Kenya’s plans to strengthen domestic refining capacity and establish Lamu as a regional energy and logistics hub.
