President William Ruto has criticised Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna over his demand for the contractual agreements between the Kenyan government and the Dangote Group concerning the planned Lamu refinery.
Speaking on Thursday, October 1, Ruto alleged that Sifuna was acting on instructions from an unnamed sponsor who wanted access to the agreements for ulterior motives.
Ruto said he became suspicious after hearing Sifuna ask about the documents relating to the Ksh2.2 trillion refinery project.
The President claimed the demand was intended to create an opportunity to pressure or extort Dangote, citing the billionaire’s previous attempt to establish a cement factory in Kenya.
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Ruto said those seeking the agreements should follow the appropriate parliamentary procedures, while warning that he would not allow the investor to face similar treatment over the refinery project.
The President’s remarks came a day after Sifuna raised the issue in the Senate, questioning why the contractual agreements surrounding the Lamu refinery had not been made available for scrutiny.
Sifuna argued that Kenyans needed to know the commitments made by the government because of the scale and significance of the project.
The senator also criticised Dangote for threatening to deal with individuals who had gone to court seeking to halt the project, urging the businessman to engage with concerns raised by Kenyans.
Dangote has said the refinery is expected to be completed within 40 months of the groundbreaking ceremony.
