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Dangote ni fire si fire: Kindiki revives viral catchphrase at Lamu refinery launch
30th September, 2026 01:48 PM
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has brought back his popular “fire si fire” catchphrase, this time using it to welcome Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote during the groundbreaking ceremony of the planned Dangote East African Refinery in Lamu.
Speaking during the ceremony on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Kindiki asked the crowd to applaud Dangote before adding his now-familiar line. “Mpigie makofi vizuri, Dangote ni fire si fire,” Kindiki said, drawing laughter from those gathered.
The remark gave a lighter moment to an otherwise formal ceremony attended by several regional leaders and other dignitaries.
Kindiki gives ‘fire si fire’ a new twist
The phrase “Mimi ni noma si noma, mimi ni fire si fire” became one of Kindiki’s most recognisable catchphrases in 2025. The Deputy President repeatedly used it during public appearances, with the line eventually finding its way into social media conversations, memes and humorous videos.
Kindiki later explained the origin of the phrase while speaking in Mombasa in September 2025. He said the “noma si noma” part came from Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho, whom he referred to as his brother.
Kindiki joked that he and Joho had agreed that Joho would retain “noma si noma”, while he would use “fire si fire” as part of what he described as the spirit of their cooperation in the broad-based government.
This time, Dangote was ‘fire’
At the Lamu ceremony, Kindiki appeared to give the phrase another makeover by turning the spotlight on Dangote. Rather than describing himself as “fire”, he directed the expression towards the Nigerian businessman as he invited him to address the gathering.
The moment stood out because of the contrast between the formal nature of the event and Kindiki’s familiar, playful delivery.
What is the Dangote refinery project?
The humour came as Kenya launches a groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed Dangote East Africa Oil Refinery, a project expected to reshape Kenya’s petroleum industry and regional fuel supply.
The project is estimated at Ksh2 trillion and is planned to have a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day. It is being developed at the Lamu Port and is expected to serve the wider East African market.
The refinery is expected to produce petroleum products while also supporting industries linked to petrochemicals and other oil-related products. The project is also expected to create employment and attract other businesses to the region. Dangote has said the development could create about 60,000 jobs.
Lamu hosts major ceremony
The groundbreaking has brought together senior leaders and dignitaries in Lamu, turning the coastal county into the centre of attention as Kenya begins one of its largest proposed industrial investments.
President William Ruto and several regional leaders attended the ceremony, including Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
For now, the project is only entering its construction phase, with completion projected around 2030.
And as the country marked the beginning of the project, Kindiki found a familiar way to welcome Dangote to the stage by declaring that this time, it was the businessman who was “fire si fire”.
