Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has raised concerns after his request for a Senate statement on the proposed Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery in Lamu was reportedly blocked from reaching the Senate floor.
Sifuna said he had submitted the request seeking detailed information about the multibillion-shilling project, including the government’s financial commitments, the project’s ownership structure and the arrangements surrounding land and community participation.
The request, dated October 2, 2026, was directed to the Senate Standing Committee on Energy.
The senator wants the committee to provide records relating to the approval and implementation of the refinery, as well as details of any public participation undertaken before the project was approved.
He has also called for disclosure of the project’s financing model and clarification on whether Kenyan taxpayers will contribute financially to the investment.
Sifuna further wants the committee to provide a value-for-money assessment of any investment made by the government and disclose the beneficial owners of the project and companies involved in its implementation.
The Nairobi senator has linked his demands to Article 35 of the Constitution, which provides for citizens’ right to access information held by the State and requires the State to publish and publicise important information affecting the country.
His latest concerns come amid a growing political dispute over the transparency of the Lamu refinery project.
Sifuna, however, has maintained that Kenyans deserve information about major projects that could have significant economic, environmental and social implications.
The proposed refinery, estimated to cost more than Ksh2 trillion, was officially launched in Lamu in September during a groundbreaking ceremony attended by President Ruto and Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote.
The project is expected to have a refining capacity of about 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and is being positioned as a major investment aimed at strengthening energy security and reducing the region’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
However, the project has also faced opposition from sections of the Lamu community, with residents raising concerns over land ownership, compensation, environmental issues and public participation.
Sifuna has argued that development should proceed within the requirements of the Constitution and that Kenyans should be given access to information concerning major investments involving public interests.
The dispute over his Senate request adds another layer to the ongoing debate over the refinery, with questions surrounding transparency, government commitments and the extent of parliamentary oversight likely to remain a key issue as the project progresses.
