The High Court in Nairobi has certified as urgent a petition seeking full disclosure of details surrounding the proposed Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals project in Lamu County.
In directions issued on October 6, 2026, Justice David Mburu ordered the petitioner to physically serve the application, petition and court directions on the respondents and interested parties within two days.
The respondents and interested parties have seven days from service to file and serve their responses to the application and petition.
The petitioner may file a rejoinder, if necessary, alongside written submissions on the application within 14 days of receiving the responses.
The respondents and interested parties will then have 14 days from receipt of the petitioner's submissions to file their written arguments.
The petitioner may subsequently file supplementary submissions on points of law within seven days of receiving the other parties' submissions.
The court scheduled the matter for mention on November 12 to confirm compliance with the directions and issue further orders.
The court has not yet determined the substantive issues raised in the petition.
The case comes amid separate legal challenges to the refinery, a major energy investment whose groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by President William Ruto and Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote on September 30.
The project, estimated to cost Sh2 trillion, is planned for Magogoni, within the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) corridor.
It is designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily and will include an integrated 1,000-megawatt power plant, with completion targeted around 2030.
In a separate case filed at the Malindi Environment and Land Court, 133 residents of the Chandavai area of Lamu County are seeking to stop the project over fears of displacement and alleged failure to compensate them.
Justice Jane Onyango ordered the maintenance of the status quo on the project land pending a determination of the matter on October 14.
The order did not stop the September 30 groundbreaking ceremony but barred immediate land clearing and excavation.
Dangote dismissed concerns over court challenges, saying legal disputes and construction halts were normal in doing business in Africa.
“Anybody who wants to cause trouble, we’re ready for them,” he said, signalling his resolve to proceed with the investment despite the legal hurdles.
Ruto labelled critics and individuals trying to stop the oil refinery project as "brokers" and "matapeli" (swindlers), warning that his administration would not allow them to sabotage the investment.
The November 12 mention will establish whether the parties have complied with the prescribed timelines and what further steps the case will take.
