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Lamu residents stage protests a day to Dangote Refinery groundbreaking
29th September, 2026 02:26 PM
Lamu residents on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, staged protests against the proposed Dangote East Africa Refinery, a day before the planned groundbreaking ceremony for the multibillion-shilling project.
The demonstrations came as preparations for the project intensified, with President William Ruto and Dangote Group founder Aliko Dangote expected to preside over the ceremony on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Police were deployed during the protests, with reports indicating that tear gas was used as officers moved to disperse demonstrators. Residents were demanding that their concerns over land and compensation be addressed.
Why Lamu residents are protesting
The Tuesday demonstrations followed concerns raised by affected residents over land earmarked for the refinery.
More than 130 residents have moved to the Malindi Environment and Land Court, challenging activities on part of the disputed parcel. They claim their families have occupied, cultivated and developed the land for generations and want their interests recognised before the project proceeds.
One resident said the community wants the government to provide clarity on the way forward.
“We have not known the stand or way forward. We ask the government to provide a way forward,” a resident said.
Residents on compensation
The protests came a day after affected residents called on the government to compensate families whose land and livelihoods could be affected by the refinery project.
Speaking on Monday, September 28, 2026, residents said they support the investment and the opportunities it could bring to Lamu but insisted that development should not come at the expense of communities that depend on the land for farming and livestock keeping.
One resident called on the government to first protect community land, saying residents had plans to use the area for livestock production and related businesses.
“Tunaomba serikali kwanza kabisa ilinde ardhi yetu,” the resident said, explaining that the community wanted to establish quarantine facilities, hay farming, feedlots and livestock marketing infrastructure through the LAPSSET Livestock Marketing Cooperative Society.
Another resident raised concerns over the Barguan Holding Ground, describing it as a historic livestock facility and warning that the planned livestock corridor could take up large portions of land used by pastoralists.
“Mahali inaitwa Barguan Holding Ground ni mahali mkoloni alikuwa ametengeneza,” the resident said.
Farmers also said they felt they had repeatedly borne the effects of major development projects without receiving the benefits or compensation they were promised.
One farmer said residents had accepted previous projects but were now being left without what they considered their rightful compensation. “Ardhi ni yetu sisi wakulima lakini mpaka sasa kusema kweli haki yetu hatujapata,” the farmer said.
The residents maintained that they were not opposed to the Dangote refinery but wanted affected families to be compensated and their land rights protected before the project proceeds.
One resident described the refinery as a potentially transformative investment for Lamu while insisting that local communities should not be left worse off by its development.
“Naunga asilimia mia moja huu mradi unaokuja wa Dangote kwa sababu ni mradi utakaoleta manufaa makubwa hapa kwa sisi wakaazi wa Lamu,” the resident said.
