Wiper Patriotic Front boss Kalonzo Musyoka has criticized President William Ruto over the Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery in Lamu, saying the project has its genesis in the former President Mwai Kibaki’s government.

The Wiper leader said on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, that he welcomed the Nigerian investment but warned that huge investments need to be subjected to due process and delivered value to Kenyan citizens.

“I was with President Kibaki, Raila and the rest in pushing the LAPSSET project in Lamu. We welcome foreign direct investment but let us not confuse this with what Bwana Ruto is saying we are anti this and that. All we want is due process,’ Kalonzo said.

The Wiper Patriotic Front boss made the remarks on the day the President and Dangote Group boss Aliko Dangote laid the foundation for the proposed East Africa’s biggest oil refinery. Kalonzo accused the Head of State of misrepresenting the issues around the Dangote oil refinery after he mentioned Kibaki and Raila Odinga in his press statement. He said that the LAPSSET Corridor development agenda, which included the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor was an idea developed by Kibaki, Raila and himself.

“President Mwai Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and I were the leaders who developed Vision 2030 and among the projects that were identified was the LAPSSET and Lamu Port,” he said.

Kalonzo criticized the government for creating an environment that discourages investment. He said the opposition does not reject deals that are good for the country.

“We welcome foreign investment, what we say is let there be due process. We do not want the deals to be made in back alleys to favour some people. The people of Kenya should benefit from these investments,” he said.

The Wiper leader criticized the noisy and rowdy protests that have been hurled against various proposed investments including Dangote’s Cement factory in Kitui and the Adani deal involving Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

“We are saying let them put their money in the economy. They need to be given the security of tenure to invest, to grow the economy and create jobs. If they come to Kenya, let them add value to what they are doing and leave it better than they found it,” Kalonzo said.

The proposed refinery will cost between Sh2.1 trillion and Sh2.2 trillion and when completed will have the capacity to refine up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day. It will feed the local market with finished petroleum products and supply to other countries in the region. Dangote said the project will take about 40 months from today.

“I want to promise you that we will come back and commission this refinery 40 months from today,” Dangote said during the groundbreaking.

The oil refining plant will draw its supply of crude from East Africa, as well as the international market, said Dangote.

The refinery investment comes as residents of Chandavai in Lamu County have filed a suit against the operators of the proposed refinery. A total of 133 residents of Chandavai are seeking to hold up the operations of the proposed Dangote refinery, which they say is located on land owned by them. The Malindi Environment and Land Court issued an injunction to the residents asking them to leave the disputed portions of land until October 14, 2026.

However, the court left the foundation laying on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, to commence. Dangote said the court ruling will not halt operations at the site, but it will affect the operations on the disputed portion.

The Wiper leader has no problem with the refinery as long as it creates jobs and adds value to the county. But what is rubbing many Kenyans’ noses is that the President is evading and refusing to acknowledge the truth.