A Kenyan presidential candidate, Patrick Osoi, has warned Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote against rushing to establish an oil refinery in Kenya, insisting that local investors and existing facilities should be prioritised if he wins the country’s 2027 presidential election.
Osoi made the remarks during a campaign event, where he addressed Dangote directly over the proposed refinery project in Lamu, a coastal county in Kenya.
“I want to tell Dangote, please don’t hurry up to start the refinery because by next year February, the time I’m sworn in as the president of this country, you’ll be back going to Nigeria,” he said.
The presidential hopeful argued that Kenya already has refinery facilities and capable businesspeople who could undertake the project without depending on foreign investors.
“We have refinery which can do that job. We also have business people in this country who can do that job,” Osoi added.
He maintained that promoting local entrepreneurship and strengthening domestic industries would be priorities of his administration if elected, arguing that Kenyan businesses should have the opportunity to develop and manage strategic industries.
His comments have generated attention amid discussions about foreign investment, local economic development and Kenya’s plans for its energy sector.
Dangote, who heads the Dangote Group and operates a major refinery in Nigeria, has not publicly responded to Osoi’s remarks. It also remains unclear whether the candidate’s statements reflect any official Kenyan government position or how they might affect the proposed project.
Osoi is among those seeking political support ahead of Kenya’s next general election, expected in 2027. His remarks have brought renewed attention to the debate over whether major industrial projects should be led by domestic investors or foreign businesses.
