By our reporter 29.9.2026
The planned groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed 700,000-barrel-per-day Dangote refinery in Lamu, Kenya is being threatened with legal dispute.
Plans to site the refinery on the land has been resisted by 133 residents of Chandavai in Lamu County who claimed that the land is an ancestral property occupied and used by their families for generations.
Following the dispute the Malindi Environment and Land Court issued the order after 133 residents of Chandavai challenged the development, directed that the existing situation on the disputed parcel of land be maintained pending further proceedings scheduled for October 14.
However, the groundbreaking ceremony according to Aliko Dangote will still hold on Wednesday as scheduled.
“I’m sure some of you must have seen one court (has) given an order that we shouldn’t do any construction? I said no, no. This is normal for us in Africa. … In fact, this is even small,” he said. “Anyone who wants to cause trouble, we are ready for them.”
“The court has not halted the groundbreaking ceremony of the refinery at this stage. However, activities at the site may be affected by the ruling as both parties are required not to carry activities until the case is heard on 14th October.”
According to the residents their families have cultivated the land for centuries and their homes, farms, trees would be affected even as the government or the Dangote group has not paid any compensation.
President William Ruto is expected to attend the September 30 groundbreaking ceremony, despite the pending land dispute.
Kenya President William Ruto and Aliko Dangote viewing the Dangote Refinery in Lagos.