President William Ruto has announced plans for a Sh2 trillion oil refinery in Lamu, describing the proposed project as a major industrial investment that will position Kenya as a regional hub for petroleum processing and create thousands of jobs.
Ruto announced this as he began an eight-day development tour of the Coast, taking him through Taita Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa, Tana River and Lamu.
The tour is focused on infrastructure, land reforms, housing, water, energy and economic projects, with the issuance of nearly 200,000 title deeds also forming a major part of the programme.
“The day after tomorrow, I will be in Lamu for a historic milestone for Kenya as we launch an oil refinery that will connect around eight neighbouring countries. This refinery, to be constructed in Lamu, represents an investment worth Ksh2 trillion. It will generate 60,000 jobs for our youth, earn critical foreign exchange, and save us the massive revenue we currently spend importing fuel from abroad,” Ruto declared.
The proposed refinery is expected to be developed jointly by the government and Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote. The facility is expected to process crude from Kenya’s Lokichar oil fields and other sources before supplying refined petroleum products to regional markets.
Ruto also pointed to ongoing efforts to expand Kenya’s port infrastructure, particularly at Mombasa and Lamu.
“Now, through the National Infrastructure Fund—which I announced during my State of the Nation Address—we have dedicated resources to expand transport infrastructure across our country.
“This includes our ports. I want to assure my brothers and sisters here at the Coast that we now have the funding to expand the Port of Mombasa to make it even larger, while the Port of Lamu has already been operationalised,” he noted.
During the tour, the president is also expected to distribute nearly 200,000 title deeds across the six coastal counties. Taita Taveta residents in Mwatate and Voi constituencies are set to receive 31,318 title deeds, while Kwale has been allocated 94,175.
Kilifi will receive 36,826, Mombasa 4,360, while Lamu and Tana River will share 22,770 documents.
Ruto has linked the title deed programme to his administration’s efforts to address squatter settlements and historical land disputes.
“That is the reason we are here today. Today, we are issuing land title deeds to 26,000 citizens right here in Kwale. I will return again because my goal is for us to have distributed half a million title deeds here at the Coast before December this year,” he stated.
He also pledged to address cases involving absentee landlords, saying the government would pursue compensation and acquisition of some parcels before allocating them to long-term occupants.
“Our answer is to ensure that every citizen, where they reside and live, is allocated their land, has it surveyed, and is issued a title deed,” Ruto explained.
The land question has remained a longstanding concern in the Coast region, with thousands of families facing uncertainty over ownership and some communities living for years without formal documentation.
At the start of the tour in Taita Taveta, Ruto inspected several infrastructure projects, including the Bura-Mto Mwagodi road, and launched housing and market projects in Wundanyi. He also announced plans for additional investment in the county’s road network.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, who spoke during the tour, acknowledged the government’s land initiatives, recalling the promises made during the 2022 presidential campaign.
“Because we were so used to being deceived—from Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi, and Mwai Kibaki to Uhuru Kenyatta, who all came with the same land promises—we assumed the fifth president would be no different and thought you were lying to us. But after being sworn in as President, you proved to us that what you promised during your campaigns was real—you truly meant business,” Kingi remarked.