‘Don’t Rush the Refinery’ — Patrick Osoi Warns Dangote He May Have To Leave Kenya If He Becomes President

 

Image: IG 

Former Kenya Defence Forces officer Patrick Osoi has warned Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote against rushing into plans to build an oil refinery in Kenya, insisting that the country has local investors capable of undertaking the project.

Osoi made the statement while addressing supporters at a Lions Movement event, where he spoke about his ambition to become Kenya’s president in the 2027 election.

During his address, the presidential aspirant suggested that Dangote’s involvement in the proposed refinery could come to an end if he wins the election, arguing that Kenyan business people should have the opportunity to develop and operate such a major industrial facility.

“I want to tell Aliko Dangote, please don’t rush to start the refinery because, when I’m sworn in as President of Kenya next year, you will be heading back to Nigeria,” he said.

Osoi also questioned the need for a foreign investor to take the lead in a project that he believes local entrepreneurs could handle.

“We Kenyans have business people who can start the refinery. We also have business people in this country who can do that job. This is what we stand for. This is the home of all movements,” he added.

His comments put the spotlight on the question of local participation in Kenya’s major industrial projects, particularly those involving foreign investors and billions of dollars in proposed investment.

Dangote’s planned refinery in Kenya is expected to be located in Lamu, a coastal area with access to the Indian Ocean. The proposed investment has been estimated at $16 billion, with a projected processing capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

The project is intended to supply petroleum products to Kenya and other markets across East Africa, potentially reducing the region’s dependence on imported refined fuel.

Kenyan President William Ruto and Dangote reportedly held a groundbreaking ceremony for the project on September 30, 2026.

Osoi’s position raises questions about how his proposed administration would approach foreign investment and whether it would seek to give domestic companies a greater role in projects of this scale.

However, his comments did not include details on how Kenyan investors would finance the refinery, secure the required technical expertise or take over the project from Dangote.

For now, his warning reflects his stated preference for local participation in the refinery project. Whether that position would translate into a change in the project’s ownership or development plans would depend on the policies his administration pursued if he were elected president.

#AlikoDangote #PatrickOsoi 

#KenyaRefinery #KenyaPolitics