NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has fired back at Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, over controversial remarks the billionaire made during the groundbreaking ceremony of the mega Sh2 trillion Lamu oil refinery.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate, Sifuna condemned Dangote’s dismissive stance toward public opposition, emphasizing that foreign investors must adhere to Kenya’s national values and treat citizens with respect.
The fiery exchange follows a stern warning issued by Dangote during the launch event in Lamu, where he declared he was unfazed by legal hurdles and prepared to take on anyone standing in the project’s way.
“Like what I said, we are not really scared about people taking us to court. Anybody who wants to cause trouble, we are ready for his trouble and will give him a headache,” Dangote stated boldly during the ceremony.
Sifuna Rejects Dangote’s “Trouble” Warnings
In a swift rejoinder, Senator Sifuna told the house that such heavy-handed language from an investor is unacceptable, particularly when local communities are raising genuine constitutional concerns.
“I have heard him say that really, even if you have problems with the project, he will deal with you. You cannot speak to us like that if you want to invest in our country. We have values, Honorable Speaker,” Sifuna argued.
The Nairobi legislator maintained that while the country welcomes development, it must not be pursued at the expense of human dignity and the rule of law. He cited Article 10 of the Kenyan Constitution, which outlines national values and principles of governance, as a mandatory benchmark for the project.
“Nobody is against development, but again, it must be within the confines of the values of our constitution. There is nothing wrong with explaining things to our people. Why do we treat our people so badly that we can’t explain to them what this thing is about?” Sifuna questioned.
Secret Sh2 Trillion Agreement Sparks Parliamentary Concern
A major point of contention raised by Sifuna is the total lack of transparency surrounding the Sh2 trillion deal. According to the lawmaker, the executive arm of government has kept Parliament entirely in the dark regarding the contractual obligations Kenya has entered into with the Nigerian tycoon.
“We are members of parliament here, and I can assure you, Speaker, none of us has seen the agreement on that refinery. None of us knows the commitments that this country has given in order for that refinery to be built,” Sifuna revealed.
The lack of clarity comes at a time when a section of Lamu residents have already moved to court to challenge the development, citing potential environmental degradation and unresolved land issues. noted that the affected locals are “crying out” for intervention from their elected leaders.
President Ruto Warns “Brokers and Extortionists”
While Dangote defended the massive scale of the proposed refinery, President William Ruto, who also attended the groundbreaking ceremony, firmly backed the investors. President Ruto assured the billionaire that the state would deal ruthlessly with cartels, stating his administration would not allow “brokers, blackmailers, or extortionists” to sabotage multi-billion shilling investments.
As the legal battles in Lamu loom, the clash between corporate power, executive backing, and legislative oversight sets up a massive constitutional test for Kenya’s energy sector.
