Kenya is set to begin work on the planned East Africa Oil Refinery in Lamu, with the project expected to create about 50,000 jobs and reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
Kenya’s Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki, said preparations for the project’s groundbreaking have been completed ahead of the September 30, 2026 ceremony, which President William Ruto is expected to host in Lamu.
According to Kindiki, the refinery will form part of a wider industrial and energy development plan for Kenya and the East African region. It is expected to provide refining and petrochemical processing facilities while supporting related businesses and services.
The Kenyan government also expects the project to reduce the amount of foreign exchange spent on importing refined petroleum products. Local refining would allow more of the country’s petroleum needs to be met within Kenya while creating additional economic activity around the facility.
Kindiki said the refinery could generate up to 50,000 jobs in Lamu and the wider coastal region. Beyond direct employment, the government expects businesses in transportation, storage, logistics and other services to benefit from the project.
The refinery is also being linked to Kenya’s plans to develop its domestic crude oil industry. The government expects local oil production to begin towards the end of 2026, creating a potential supply chain connecting crude production, transportation, refining and industrial processing.
The project is expected to play a major role in the development of Lamu as an energy and industrial centre. Its location is also linked to infrastructure around the Port of Lamu and the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor.
The government believes the refinery could serve markets beyond Kenya by providing petroleum and petrochemical services to other countries in East Africa.
Kindiki said regional leaders and local communities are expected to attend the groundbreaking ceremony, while security and logistical arrangements are being finalised for the event.
The development comes as Kenya seeks to establish an integrated petroleum value chain that would connect crude oil production with refining, storage, transportation and exports.
The refinery is therefore expected to become a major component of Kenya’s plans to expand its energy industry while creating new economic opportunities in Lamu, the coastal region and the wider East African market.
