Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote told attendees at the Lamu groundbreaking ceremony that the $16 billion refinery will be built "with your community" rather than merely "in your community".

Dangote said the project will employ about 60,000 people during the construction phase, with positions open to anyone holding engineering degrees, diplomas or other relevant qualifications.

A training school will be set up in Lamu to train 1,000 local residents as part of the project’s skills‑development component.

Dangote also highlighted plans to involve local businesses as suppliers and to encourage entrepreneurs to develop around the project, aiming to create a broader supply‑chain ecosystem.

The refinery is designed to process roughly 700,000 barrels of crude daily and is slated for completion by 2030, positioning it as one of Kenya's largest private‑sector investments.

Dangote stressed that development must respect Lamu's environmental, cultural and historical significance, pledging safeguards to ensure industrialisation and environmental stewardship coexist.

Legal challenges over land rights have persisted, with a Kenyan court ordering a status‑quo maintenance; despite this, Dangote confirmed the groundbreaking would proceed.

The refinery is pitched as a regional hub, targeting markets across East and Central Africa, and up to 30 percent of its equity is earmarked for East African investors.