The planned September 30 groundbreaking of the proposed East Africa Oil Refinery in Lamu proceeded despite an ongoing land dispute before the Malindi Environment and Land Court. The court had ordered the parties to maintain the status quo on the disputed LR No. 13061 in the Hindi/Manda/Magogoni area until October 14, when an application by residents was due to be heard. However, the interim order did not expressly prevent the groundbreaking ceremony. 

The case was filed by 133 farmers and other occupiers who said they had lived on and cultivated the disputed land for years but had been excluded from the acquisition, compensation and resettlement process. They sought orders to stop the groundbreaking, as well as further clearing, excavation, fencing and construction. Justice Jane Onyango declined to certify the application as urgent. She directed the respondents to file their responses within 14 days and required the existing status of the property to be preserved pending the October 14 hearing. 

Lawyer Hesbon Omollo said the order could restrict development activities on the contested land but did not necessarily prevent the ceremonial launch. Dangote Group similarly maintained that the groundbreaking could proceed, while acknowledging that the court order might affect activities at the site. The residents’ claims to the land had not yet been determined, meaning the dispute remained before the court. 

President William Ruto led the refinery’s groundbreaking, backed by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote’s Dangote Group. The proposed facility was designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and had been presented as a major investment in Kenya’s petroleum and industrial sectors. The government highlighted its potential to create jobs, expand domestic petroleum processing and strengthen Kenya’s position in the regional energy market. 

(Source: MSN)