Wahome Says Most Land for Sh2.2tn Dangote Lamu Refinery Is Public Land

Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has said most of the land earmarked for the proposed Sh2.2 trillion Dangote East Africa Refinery in Lamu is government-owned public land, as a dispute over ownership and compensation continues to unfold.

Wahome said the government had identified about 7,000 acres for the refinery, alongside an additional parcel of more than 2,000 acres, which she said was also classified as state-owned land.

Her comments come amid a legal challenge by some Lamu residents who claim that parts of the land targeted for the development constitute ancestral property. The residents have raised concerns over ownership, compensation and the potential displacement of families who have occupied parts of the area for decades.

Wahome, however, said the presence of people on the land did not necessarily mean they were its legal owners.

“The government was dealing with different categories of people in the area, including genuine squatters who may have occupied particular pieces of land for decades and may have no other place to go,” she said.

Families have occupied land for generations

According to the Cabinet Secretary, some families have lived on the disputed parcels for between 50 and 60 years, with occupation and claims being passed from one generation to another.

That history, she said, had complicated efforts to determine who held legitimate ownership rights and who should qualify for compensation as the government prepares the land for the refinery.

Wahome said the government already had data concerning original landowners and people with legitimate claims, adding that authorities were working to address the wider land questions surrounding the project.

The dispute has placed land rights and compensation at the centre of debate over the refinery, particularly among residents who say they have longstanding ancestral ties to the area.

Government faces legal challenge

The clarification comes as some Lamu residents pursue legal action challenging aspects of the proposed development, arguing that sections of the project site are ancestral land.

The case is being handled by the Attorney General, according to Wahome, while the Lands Ministry continues to deal with land acquisition, resettlement and compensation issues linked to the project.

The Cabinet Secretary also alleged that some individuals who went to court to oppose the development had been “planted by enemies of development”, although she said genuine land claims would be considered by the government.

The allegation has added another layer to an already contentious debate over the project, with questions over land ownership existing alongside the government’s push to attract major investment to Lamu.

Sh2.2tn refinery unveiled

The land dispute comes as the government and Dangote Group move forward with the proposed Sh2.2 trillion refinery, which was officially launched on September 30.

The project has been presented by the government and the Dangote Group as a major investment for Lamu and the wider East African region.

It is expected to create up to 60,000 direct and indirect jobs, while potentially expanding the region’s energy and industrial infrastructure.

For the government, resolving the land questions will therefore be an important part of moving the development forward. Wahome said authorities would continue addressing legitimate ownership and compensation claims while the legal dispute proceeds.

The competing claims over the land are likely to remain a key issue as construction and related preparations for the refinery advance.

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