NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 30 – Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended the proposed Dangote Lamu oil refinery, saying the project will benefit Kenya despite protests by some residents over land compensation and public participation.

📻 Breaking It Down

Mbadi dismissed claims surrounding the acquisition of land for the proposed East Africa Oil Refinery in Lamu County, accusing some individuals seeking compensation of attempting to exploit the government through fraudulent land claims.

The CS described the protests and political criticism surrounding the project as “primitive politics”, arguing that the refinery is a major investment that should be protected from political interference.

“It’s unfortunate that politics is playing out in such a serious investment… even if you are in opposition, you know what’s serious and what is not,” Mbadi said.

📌 What You Need to Know

The Treasury CS spoke as a section of Lamu residents protested over what they said was inadequate compensation and lack of sufficient public participation ahead of the planned groundbreaking of the refinery.

Mbadi, however, maintained that residents had been involved in public participation exercises conducted by the relevant government agencies before the project was approved.

The Cabinet Secretary accused land brokers and what he described as cartels of attempting to interfere with the acquisition process by presenting inflated compensation demands.

“Brokers are trying to con government… how do you ask for Ksh.30 million for a plot valued at Ksh.60,000?” Mbadi posed.

He said the government would not allow individuals to use the refinery project to make what he described as unjustified financial demands.

The dispute over land has emerged as one of the major issues surrounding the proposed refinery, with some residents maintaining that they have legitimate claims to land earmarked for the project.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya