Sobana Aidarus, a resident of remote Kwasasi village in Lamu West, is looking beyond the excitement surrounding Dangote Group’s East African Refinery, just two days before its groundbreaking.
While his fellow villagers concentrate on how they are going to benefit from the employment opportunities that the oil refinery will create, Mr Aidarus, a seasoned local entrepreneur, intends to build a business that serves the hidden demands of this giant refinery.
“We’re looking forward to the project’s commissioning on Wednesday so that some of us get diverse gains. My thoughts aren’t just about the fuel or the jobs. I am thinking of establishing an industrial catering service in this place to cater for the refinery workforce,” he says.
His thinking aligns with the broader consensus among energy and economic experts who affirmed that a modern oil refinery can serve as a catalyst for a much wider ecosystem of economic, structural and social advancements.
Sobana Aidarus, the spokesperson and coordinator of farmers in Kwasasi, a village where the Sh2.2 trillion Dangote Oil Refinery will be established in this photo taken on September 24, 2026.
Photo credit: Kalume Kazungu | Nation
Mr Joseph Otieno, the Commissioner for Petroleum at the State Department for Petroleum, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, points out the many avenues and industries the oil refinery will bring beyond fuel.
While appreciating the efforts by the government of Kenya under President William Ruto, as well as the investor, Aliko Dangote, for the confidence in choosing Lamu as the preferred host of a project of such magnitude, Mr Otieno cited the venture as the bedrock for a massive industrial ecosystem, specifically driven by petrochemical manufacturing.
“When an area like Lamu secures a major investment such as the 700,000-barrel-per-day regional refinery project backed by Dangote Industries, the economic transformation in that county and country at large extends far beyond producing gasoline and diesel,” said Mr Otieno.
Mr Otieno called on people to think beyond just fuel, noting that there shall be other serious industries that will automatically be created.
“We have the Lamu Port in place. The presence of Dangote Project will make the port busier. Industrial ventures on marine and port support services will be created where there shall be upgrading of ship refueling, tugboat operations and the general maritime logistics around Lamu Port to serve activities at the oil refinery,” said Mr Otieno.
Former Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) Corridor Development Authority Director General and CEO, Dr Silvester Kasuku says the Dangote integrated refinery and petrochemical complex, combined with a 1000MW power project, serves as a massive anchor investment for Lamu.
Dr Kasuku, currently working as the Presidential Advisor on Government Infrastructure, reiterated that the refinery infrastructure will establish a powerful attraction platform, automatically driving industrial growth and economic transformation in Lamu, the general northern Kenya region and beyond.
Dr Kasuku explained that Lamu is going to grow on a three-pronged growth trajectory of Port, Industry and Metropolis, where industries are going to be based on other clusters and sub-clusters.
These vary from Petrochemical and Refining, Agro-processing, Logistics and Warehousing, Manufacturing, and Marine/Maritime services.
Beyond this, other highly specialised economic sub-sectors designed to complement the primary clusters, such as food manufacturing, textile processing, assembly and service support sectors are also set to benefit.
He added that the development will turn Lamu into a fully integrated global hub. Currently, the Port of Lamu is serving as a world-class deep-water transshipment gateway, unlocking regional and continental trade.
“The Lapsset Master plan organises industrialisation within the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) into specific agglomeration frameworks to reduce transaction costs and share labour markets,” said Dr Kasuku.
During a public participation forum on the Sh2.2 trillion Dangote Oil Refinery held at the Mokowe Command Centre Hall in Hindi on Thursday, Lamu County Commissioner Stephen Sangolo said the presence of mega projects like the intended oil refinery is a blessing to the region.
“Key secondary and tertiary ventures shall erupt. We shall witness factories dealing in plastics and polymers to produce polyethylene and polypropylene, which are the raw materials for packaging, automotive parts, pipes, and household goods getting established in our county in the near future,” said Mr Sangolo.
Synthetic fibre downstream textile mills producing polyester, nylon, and acrylics for the apparel and industrial fabric, synthetic rubber manufacturing used heavily in tire manufacturing, conveyor belts, and seals among other sectors are also expected to be established in Lamu as a result of the presence of the Dangote Oil Refinery.
Mr Japheth Mwangi, an industrial planner and analyst, said petrochemical outputs will also allow for the local production of various industrial and consumer chemicals.
He said apart from creating opportunities for citizens in the engineering, business aspects, jobs and other opportunities, the project will generally contribute to the development of human capital and subsequently resulting in growth of the Kenyan economy.
Lamu County Commissioner Stephen Sangolo presides over a public forum on Dangote Oil Refinery at the Command Centre in Mokowe, Hindi, Lamu West on September 24, 2026.
Photo credit: Kalume Kazungu | Nation
Last Friday, President Ruto toured Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote’s mega oil refinery in Lekki, Lagos, ahead of next week’s groundbreaking ceremony for the Dangote East African Refinery in Lamu.
Dr Ruto, accompanied by First Lady Rachel Ruto and senior government officials, said he visited the facility at the invitation of Dangote Group President and CEO Aliko Dangote.
On Saturday, the Sh2.2 trillion East African Oil Refinery by Aliko Dangote received a major boost after a first caller vessel MV DA YANG BAI HE docked at the Port of Lamu in Kililana.
The vessel, from China, was laden with 2930.295 metric tonnes of construction equipment for undertaking the mega investment set to be officially commissioned by President William Ruto, fourteen (14) other Head of States together with the investor, Aliko Dangote on Wednesday, September 30,2026.
The project will jointly be undertaken by the Kenyan Government and the Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote. It is expected to process crude from Lokichar, Turkana County, and other East African, Southern Africa and beyond, and supply refined petroleum products to these markets.
The refinery will enhance Kenya’s energy security by ensuring reliable supply of petroleum products among other benefits.
