David Ndii, chair of the Kenyan President’s Council of Economic Advisers, confirmed the proposal during an economic summit in Nairobi. The regional stake is valued at approximately $1.5 billion, with Kenya expected to hold a 10% share worth $500 million. If neighboring countries decline participation, Kenya intends to backstop the investment to ensure the project moves forward.

The choice of Lamu Island provides a strategic logistical advantage. Its natural harbor features 18-meter drafts, allowing the facility to host massive Post-Panamax tankers that are unable to dock at Mombasa. With a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, the refinery would dwarf the region’s current demand of roughly 450,000 barrels, positioning East Africa as a net exporter of refined petroleum products.

This initiative mirrors Dangote Group’s existing massive refinery in Nigeria, which currently manages 650,000 barrels per day. With a second unit already under construction in Nigeria, Aliko Dangote is scaling his footprint to compete with the world's largest refining complexes. The East African facility would serve as a critical infrastructure anchor for Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.