Irungu Nyakera backs proposed Dangote’s mega refinery, urges Lamu siting
By Emmanuel Rono, May 10, 2026Nairobi County governor hopeful Irungu Nyakera has hailed the proposed oil refinery by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, describing it as a “very welcome development” for the country and the wider region.
This comes following the reports that the Nigerian billionaire is looking at Kenya as the site of a 650,000-barrel-a-day oil refinery that he intends to build in East Africa.
Taking to his X account on Sunday, May 10, 2026, Nyakera stated that a refinery of such magnitude would have far-reaching economic benefits, including the creation of thousands of jobs, the attraction of major foreign direct investment, and the strengthening of Kenya’s energy security.
He added that the project would also expand export capacity and potentially bolster the Kenyan shilling through increased industrial output and foreign exchange earnings.
“This would be a very welcome development for Kenya and the region. A refinery of this scale would create thousands of jobs, attract major foreign investment, strengthen energy security, expand exports, hence further strengthening our shilling, and position Kenya as a serious industrial and petrochemical hub in Africa,” Nyakera said.
Proposed location
Nyakera further proposed that if the project proceeds, it should be located in Lamu County, citing its strategic coastal position and the opportunities presented by the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor under the LAPSSET Corridor Programme.
He argued that siting the refinery in Lamu would help unlock the region’s long-held economic potential and accelerate infrastructure-led growth along the northern corridor.
“Personally, I hope such a refinery is built in Lamu because of its strategic port position and the opportunity to finally unlock the economic potential of the LAPSSET corridor,” Nyakera said.
Kenya is a bigger economy
“The ball is in the hands of President Ruto,” he said. “Whatever President Ruto says is what I’ll do,” he added.
Dangote estimated it would cost Ksh1.93 trillion to Ksh2.19 trillion ($15 billion to $17 billion) to build the refinery, the FT report said.
East Africa currently imports all of its refined petroleum products, mainly from the Middle East, leaving the region vulnerable to the supply disruptions and price spikes that have been seen during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, at an infrastructure summit in Nairobi in April 2026, said he could replicate his 650,000-barrel-a-day Nigerian refinery in East Africa, provided governments in the region supported the initiative.