Nairobi to Lamu by bus: Your guide to visiting Ksh2.2 trillion Dangote Refinery
By Paulette Mboga, September 29, 2026Travelling from Nairobi to Lamu by bus is possible, but anyone planning the journey to see the proposed Ksh2.2 trillion Dangote East Africa Refinery needs to understand exactly where the project is located.
The planned refinery is not on Lamu Island. It is set to be built on the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor. The facility is expected to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day once completed.
This distinction is important because travelling to Lamu Island and travelling to the refinery project area are not necessarily the same journey.
How to travel from Nairobi to Lamu
Travellers from Nairobi can make the journey by road along the coastal route. The trip can either be made directly where a suitable service is available or broken into stages, including a connection through Mombasa before continuing towards Lamu.
The road journey towards Lamu passes through parts of the coast, including Malindi, Garsen and Witu, before reaching Mokowe on the mainland. Current travel information places the Mombasa-Lamu road journey at roughly six to nine hours, depending on road conditions and other factors.
Travellers should confirm the available departure times, route and fare before starting the journey, as these can change.
Mokowe is an important point to understand when planning a trip to Lamu. It is on the mainland and serves as the road connection to Lamu Island.
If the final destination is Lamu Island, travellers need to arrange a boat crossing from Mokowe. The road journey does not take a bus directly onto Lamu Island.
For someone travelling specifically to the refinery project, however, crossing to Lamu Island should not automatically be part of the plan.
The refinery is planned for the Hindi/Manda Magogoni area, meaning travellers should establish the exact access point and transport arrangements for the project area before setting off.
The refinery is not yet a tourist attraction
Another important point is the current status of the project.
The proposed refinery is still at the development stage. A groundbreaking ceremony had been scheduled for September 30, 2026, with preparations already under way and heavy machinery arriving at Lamu Port. The project is planned to have a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day.
This means travellers should not expect a normal public tour of an operating refinery. Anyone seeking access to the project site should first confirm whether visitors are allowed and what permission or arrangements are required.
For travellers, the safest approach is therefore to separate the two journeys: getting to Lamu Island for tourism and getting to the planned refinery area for a project-related visit.
If the trip is specifically about the refinery, access should be confirmed before travelling. If the aim is to experience Lamu itself, the road journey can end at Mokowe, followed by a boat trip to Lamu Island.