Editor's Review
You are undermining the investment in our country, and I will not allow you - Ruto
On Tuesday, September 29, President William Ruto said court cases challenging the launch of the Dangote Refinery in Lamu were being sponsored by individuals with selfish interests.
Speaking in Kilifi, he accused them of trying to blackmail investor Aliko Dangote into ceding shares of the refinery, or else they would frustrate the entire process.
Ruto told the 'middlemen' that he will not allow them to do so with the Lamu project, adding that the practice has driven out investors from the country in past regimes, including when Dangote wanted to put up a cement factory in the country.
"You are the sponsors of those court cases because you are against this investment since you have not gotten what you have been getting. You are undermining the investment in our country, and I will not allow you.
"When you have a government that, instead of facilitating investors, you are giving conditions and demands, that is how we have driven away investment. That is how we lost the Uganda crude oil pipeline and the Dangote Cement factory," he stated.
Ruto confirmed that the government and Kenyans would have a stake in the Dangote Refinery. He stated that the share will be sold competitively at the Nairobi Securities Exchange and will not be a preserve of the elite.
"All Kenyans will have a chance to buy shares through a transparent process at the NSE. Those of you who have shares everywhere, including Kenya Power, don't assume that you are the only ones who know how to buy them," the President added.
The Commander in Chief confirmed that the refinery groundbreaking will proceed on September 30 as scheduled. He stated that the refinery would have many benefits to the locals, including creating employment.
Earlier, protests broke out in Lamu County as locals demanded to be compensated for their land ahead of the Dangote Refinery Groundbreaking. The locals further demanded public participation in the multi-billion project.
Other concerns raised were about the curfew in the country that has lasted for nearly 10 years, with residents questioning how a multi-billion project was being launched in the area yet their movement was restricted at night.
