Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka at Life Care Hospital after visiting abducted activist Collins Odhiambo on Wednesday, September 30 /HANDOUTWiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has said the Opposition welcomes foreign investment in Kenya but will continue demanding due process in major projects to ensure they serve the interests of the country and its citizens.
Kalonzo said criticism of investments should not be construed as opposition to foreign capital, arguing that Kenyans must scrutinise major deals to ensure they are transparent and deliver public value.
He spoke at Life Care Hospital after visiting abducted activist Collins Odhiambo on Wednesday.
President William Ruto led leaders and other dignitaries at the groundbreaking of the Sh2.2 trillion Dangote oil refinery in Lamu.
“Some claim that we in the Opposition oppose everything, even foreign investment in Kenya. That is not true. We welcome investment. What we demand is due process. We will not support deals that enrich a few individuals. Kenyans must be the ones to benefit,” Kalonzo said.
His remarks came as the government and its allies rallied behind the Lamu refinery, with Ruto warning individuals he accused of seeking to frustrate the project.
ODM leader Oburu Oginga, whose party is part of the broad-based government, also backed the refinery, urging residents of Lamu and the Coast region to reject attempts to derail the investment.
Kalonzo said "It's the moment for Africa" but support for the Lamu project should be accompanied by scrutiny of how it is implemented and who ultimately benefits from it.
“It was President Kibaki and me and Raila at the time who started the Lapsset project in Lamu. We welcome foreign-direct investment but let this not be confused with what Bwana Ruto is saying some of us are against this or the other. We just want to get due process,” he said.
The Wiper leader said Lamu Port was conceived as a flagship project under Vision 2030 during the Kibaki administration and when Raila was Prime Minister.
“President Mwai Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and I were part of the leadership that developed Vision 2030, in which LAPSSET and Lamu Port became flagship projects. Lamu Port has immense potential, and we remain committed to the vision we had for it,” Kalonzo said.
He, however, cautioned against what he described as arrangements that could benefit a small group at the expense of the country.
Kalonzo reaffirmed the Opposition's role to play oversight role, citing cancelation of the Adani Group deal involving Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company.
“When we objected to Adani deals, bwana Ruto was forced to withdraw that alleged privatisation of JKIA and also Ketraco,” he said.
The Lamu refinery is designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and is expected to anchor industrial and infrastructure development around the Lamu port and the wider LAPSSET corridor.
Nigerian billionaire investor Aliko Dangote whose company is rolling out the project said it will take 40 months to conclude.
