Editor's Review

"I heard Mr Empty, one of 'Shiny things', asking about the agreements and realised his sponsor had sent him."

President William Ruto has sensationally claimed that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was pushed by his 'sponsor' to demand the Dangote Lamu Refinery contract agreement.

Speaking on Thursday, October 1, Ruto said Sifuna's sponsors had a sinister motive when asking to see the agreement between the government and the Dangote Group that allowed the establishment of the Ksh2.2 trillion refinery.

"I heard Mr Empty, one of 'Shiny things', asking about the agreements between the government and the Dangote Group on the Lamu Refinery. I looked at him and realised that first, he has been sent by the sponsor," Ruto stated

He claimed that they wanted to find a way in so that they could extort the investor, Aliko Dangote, just as they did when he wanted to set up a cement factory in the country. 

"If you want the agreement, you know the procedure to ask for it through Parliament. However, I know that you want the agreement so that you subject Dangote to what you did to him the other time.

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 A file photo of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna 

"I want to tell you, the conmanship you did that made Dangote abandon his quest to set up a cement factory in Kenya, you will not do it with this refinery. I am watching you keenly, and you will not extort anybody anymore; I will not allow you," the President warned. 

Ruto's sentiments came a day after Sifuna, while speaking at the Senate, questioned why the contractual agreements of the project were not made available for scrutiny.

He argued that since the Lamu Refinery is a major project set to benefit Kenyans, it was important to know what commitments Kenya had given.

"None of us knows the commitments that this country has given for that refinery to be built. It is incumbent upon the government to let us see these documents," he reiterated.

The Nairobi Senator also slammed Dangote for vowing to deal with 'trouble makers' who moved to court, seeking orders to halt the project until some issues were addressed.

He reckoned that the billionaire should listen too and find a way to amicably address the concerns raised by Kenyans about the project instead of chest-thumping.

Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Dangote revealed that the project will be completed within 40 months.