President William Ruto told reporters that the 7,000‑acre site at Magogoni earmarked for the Dangote East Africa Refinery lies within territory owned by the Kenyan government.

He added that if any residents are found on government land adjacent to the refinery’s operational area, compensation would be the responsibility of the state, not the private investor.

Ruto dismissed claims that citizens would be displaced, emphasizing that the parcel set aside for the project does not belong to private owners.

The refinery will occupy roughly 7,000 acres within the LAPSSET Special Economic Zone, a size slightly larger than Dangote’s Lagos plant.

He linked the discussion to the broader LAPSSET framework, noting that the government previously allocated KSh 1.3 billion to compensate residents for earlier zone developments.

Ruto also criticised what he described as a culture of extortion that has driven investors away, citing Aliko Dangote’s earlier frustrations with bribery demands.

Separately, the president announced a personal trip to Kitui next month to launch a new cement‑related investment, indicating continued pursuit of large‑scale projects alongside the refinery.