A Kenyan High Court has paused the construction of Aliko Dangote's planned $16 billion oil refinery in Lamu. This decision marks the first significant delay for the project, which has been touted as Africa's largest oil endeavor in recent years. The temporary halt follows a legal challenge filed by local residents who raised concerns about land use, environmental impacts, and community welfare along Kenya's eastern coast.
The ruling specifically impacts groundbreaking and early construction activities for the Lamu refinery. While authorities have not indicated whether the pause is temporary or permanent, the court's intervention highlights ongoing tensions between large-scale infrastructure projects and local concerns within Kenya's regional development agenda. The court order mandates a review of environmental, land, and social impact assessments related to the refinery project.
The petition against the project was filed by Salim Tima Swale and 132 other individuals, who claim to be long-standing occupants, cultivators, and farmers on the affected land, LR No. 13061, within the Hindi/Manda Magogoni area. They argue that their interests arise from actual occupation, possession, use, and development of the land, which includes homes, farms, crops, and trees. They are seeking recognition as "interested persons" in the compulsory acquisition process, general damages for constitutional rights violations (including property rights and fair administrative action), and exemplary damages for alleged high-handed and unlawful conduct by the defendants.
The Malindi Environment and Land Court ordered that the status quo on the disputed land be maintained until October 14, 2026, when the matter is scheduled for further hearing. However, the court declined to block a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for September 30, 2026. The petitioners had named the Office of the President, Dangote Industries, the Lamu County government, among others, as defendants. Despite the construction pause on occupied portions of land, the groundbreaking for the overall project is permitted to proceed.
