Kenyan court clears Aliko Dangote's Lamu oil refinery project

The Malindi High Court in Kenya has lifted a suspension on the construction of a major oil refinery in Lamu. The project, valued at approximately 2.2 trillion Kenyan shillings (over 15 billion euros), is a joint venture between the Kenyan government and Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote. The refinery is designed to have a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day.

In a preliminary ruling, Judge Jane Onyango allowed construction to resume despite ongoing litigation regarding land ownership and environmental concerns. The judge noted that the petitioners had failed to properly notify Dangote and relevant state agencies as required by guidelines. The court granted the petitioners seven days to amend their petition and 14 days to notify all parties before a subsequent hearing.

The legal challenge was brought by 133 residents who claim the refinery threatens their property rights and argue that developers have not demonstrated compliance with environmental regulations across an area estimated between 2,832 and 4,046 hectares. However, Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome stated that most of the project site is legal government-owned public land, noting that while some people reside in parts of the area, their presence does not equate to private ownership.