Former Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier and presidential aspirant Patrick Osoi has urged Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote to delay his proposed oil refinery project in Kenya, saying local businesspeople can undertake the project if he becomes president.

Osoi made the remarks while addressing supporters at a Lions Movement event, where he argued that Kenya has businesspeople capable of establishing a refinery without relying on the Nigerian billionaire.

“I want to tell Aliko Dangote, please don’t rush to start the refinery because, when I’m sworn in as President of Kenya next year, you will be heading back to Nigeria,” Osoi said.

He added that Kenyan businesspeople could take responsibility for the project, emphasising his position that local investors should play a leading role in major industrial developments.

Osoi’s comments come as Dangote advances plans for a proposed $16 billion refinery in Lamu County, Kenya. The project, launched at a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Dangote and Kenyan President William Ruto on September 30, 2026, is designed to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily.

The proposed facility is expected to serve Kenya and the wider East African market, potentially strengthening regional refining capacity and reducing dependence on imported petroleum products.

Osoi’s remarks place local ownership and participation in large-scale industrial projects at the centre of his campaign message. However, he did not outline how a refinery financed and developed by Kenyan investors would be funded or implemented under a future administration.

The proposed refinery is a significant investment in East Africa’s energy sector, making the question of local participation, investment and regional economic benefits an important part of the discussion surrounding the project.

Source: Vanguard News, October 11, 2026; Punch Newspapers, October 11, 2026.