Aliko Dangote, president of the Dangote Group, announced at the Lamu groundbreaking ceremony on 30 September 2026 that every holder of an engineering degree, diploma or technical qualification linked to the East Africa Oil Refinery will be guaranteed a job.

The refinery, valued at KSh 2.2 trillion (US$16 billion), will process up to 700,000 barrels of crude per day, making it larger than any existing European facility and is slated for completion by 2030.

Dangote estimates the construction phase will create about 60,000 direct jobs, covering roles in chemical, mechanical, electrical and process engineering, as well as welding, fabrication and plant operations.

Engineers India Limited secured a KSh 58 billion contract to manage construction, drawing on experience from Dangote’s Lagos refinery project.

The first shipment of heavy construction machinery, weighing 2,930 metric tonnes, arrived at Lamu Port in late September, ahead of the groundbreaking.

A 1,000‑megawatt power plant, fueled by petroleum coke, will operate alongside the refinery, with half of its output earmarked for sale to the Kenyan government.

Local residents have filed a lawsuit over land claims on parcel LR No. 13061; the Malindi Environment and Land Court ordered a status‑quo maintenance pending a hearing on 14 October 2026 but did not halt the groundbreaking.

Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, have voiced concerns about potential impacts on Lamu Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Dangote also pledged to establish a training school to equip Kenyan youth with oil‑industry skills and assured residents of 1,000 training and employment opportunities.