Jalang’o tells Lamu residents to look beyond Dangote refinery protests and see jobs coming
By Paulette Mboga, September 29, 2026Lang’ata Member of Parliament and Nairobi senatorial hopeful Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, has urged Lamu residents to look at the job opportunities expected from the proposed Dangote East Africa Refinery as residents staged protests against the project on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
The protests came a day before the planned groundbreaking ceremony for the multibillion-shilling refinery. President William Ruto and Dangote Group founder Aliko Dangote are expected to preside over the ceremony on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Jalang’o questioned whether residents fully understood what the refinery could bring to Lamu County. He said the expected jobs could offer opportunities to many young people in the area.
“Do you know how sharp the president is? Unakumbuka wakiwa Tanzania? Akasema kwa stage kuwa kuna refinery inakuja, inafaa iwe Tanzania, Suluhu akasema, sijui hajui nini…kulikuwa na mambo mengi, Willy akasema unasema nini wewe?” Jalang’o said on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, while talking to Alex Mwakideu.
He explained that the issue was whether people in Lamu understood the scale of what was expected to happen in the county. Jalang’o said the number of opportunities linked to the refinery could be too many for residents to exhaust.
Jobs expected from the refinery
Jalang’o said the young people in Lamu should be aware of the jobs that could come with the proposed refinery. He said the opportunities would not be limited to one type of work, with different roles expected to be available.
“So the problem is, are Lamu people even aware of what is going to happen to their County? Hata wakipewa wote hawataimaliza,” Jalang’o said.
He said the number of jobs expected from the refinery was significant. Jalang’o referred to figures linked to the project and said the opportunities could benefit young people in Lamu.
“Kazi ambazo zitapatikana, Dangote anasema hii inaenda kukua double, kazi ambazo tunajua ni 60,000,” Jalang’o said.
Jalang’o then called on young people in Lamu to prepare for the opportunities he said would come with the refinery. He said the project would create different kinds of jobs, giving examples of work that could be available.
“Ambieni vijana wa lamu…hizi ni kazi zenye zinakuja kwa refinery. Kutakuwa na madereva, yaani kazi mingi,” Jalang’o said.
His remarks came as Lamu residents protested the proposed refinery a day before its planned groundbreaking. The demonstrations took place as preparations for the ceremony intensified, with Ruto and Dangote expected to attend the event on Wednesday.