President William Ruto/PCSPresident William Ruto has weighed in on Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s call for Parliament to be shown the agreement between the Kenyan government and Dangote Group over the planned Sh2.2 trillion refinery in Lamu.
Speaking during a rally on Thursday, Ruto said Parliament had a procedure through which lawmakers could request government agreements.
“I want to tell you, if you want the agreement, you know how it’s asked for at Parliament so that it’s brought,” Ruto said.
The President was responding to concerns raised by the senator, who had earlier questioned why lawmakers had not seen the agreement behind the project or been informed of the commitments Kenya had made to facilitate its construction.
Sifuna had earlier remarked during a senate sitting that major development projects should comply with the constitution and be subject to the required parliamentary oversight.
“As leaders of Linda Mwananchi, nobody is against development, but it must be within the confines of the values of the constitution,” Sifuna said.
“We are members of Parliament here and we haven't seen the agreement for that refinery. We don't know the commitments that this country has given for that refinery to be built.”
Ruto, in his response, maintained that lawmakers seeking to examine the agreement should use the established parliamentary process to obtain it.
He also referred to earlier difficulties faced by Dangote when the Nigerian businessman expressed interest in establishing a cement factory in the country.
The President said the setbacks encountered at the time had eventually been addressed, arguing that similar obstacles should not be allowed to derail the latest investment.
He said the focus should instead be on finding solutions to challenges surrounding major investments.
Ruto’s remarks came as Kenya formally broke ground on the refinery, which Dangote has said will have a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day once completed.
The project is expected to serve Kenya and other markets in the East African region.
The refinery is planned as part of a wider industrial development in Lamu and has attracted regional attention, with several African leaders attending the groundbreaking ceremony.
Ruto has continued to back the Dangote investment, describing it as part of Kenya’s push to expand its industrial base and strengthen its energy security.
The project, however, has also attracted questions from some a faction of leaders and residents over issues including land, compensation, public participation and the terms of the investment.
A court has separately ordered the maintenance of the status quo over portions of land earmarked for the project following a petition by residents.
