A Kenyan court has ordered a temporary pause on activities linked to the proposed Dangote refinery in Lamu County, putting the much-anticipated project under fresh legal scrutiny just days before its planned groundbreaking ceremony. The Malindi Environment and Land Court directed that the existing situation at the project site be maintained pending further proceedings on October 14.

The case was brought by farmers and residents of Chandavai in Lamu County, who alleged that they faced forceful eviction and the destruction of their properties in connection with the proposed refinery. The petitioners also argued that the project had not met key legal requirements, including a mandatory environmental impact assessment and adequate public participation, while raising concerns over the absence of a resettlement plan.

According to Bloomberg, Judge Jane Onyango issued the order on September 25, with the court expected to provide further directions when the matter returns on October 14. A lawyer representing the petitioners, George Wakahiu, said the order means construction activities should not begin before the next hearing. The legal challenge therefore places the project’s immediate activities under a cloud of uncertainty.

However, Dangote Group has pushed back against reports that the court has stopped the refinery’s groundbreaking ceremony. In a statement reported by Reuters, the company said the court had not halted the ceremony at this stage, although activities at the proposed site could be affected by the order requiring both parties to refrain from activities until the case is heard. The clarification comes as preparations continue for the planned September 30 groundbreaking.

The proposed 700,000-barrel-per-day Dangote refinery in Kenya has been presented as a major regional industrial project. Kenyan President William Ruto recently said his government was accelerating administrative processes and had secured land for the facility, while Aliko Dangote said the planned refinery would be larger than the existing Dangote refinery in Nigeria. The Kenyan government expects the project to support industrial development, create jobs and strengthen technical skills across East Africa, but its next steps will now depend partly on the outcome of the court proceedings.

source: punch