Kenyan President Ruto Expresses Special Appreciation to Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed for Joining Lamu Refinery Groundbreaking
Addis Ababa, September 30, 2026 (FMC) — Kenyan President William Ruto has expressed special appreciation to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for joining the groundbreaking ceremony of the Lamu Refinery, saying his presence carries significance for Kenya, Ethiopia and the wider region.
Addressing the ceremony in Lamu, President Ruto thanked Prime Minister Abiy, whom he referred to as his brother, for making the trip despite the demands on his schedule.
“I appreciate you. The people of Kenya appreciate the sacrifices you have made to be here with us because this is significant, not just for Kenya but for Ethiopia and the region,” President Ruto said.
President Ruto’s remarks underscored the importance he attaches to Prime Minister Abiy’s participation in the landmark energy and infrastructure event and to the broader ties between the two neighbouring countries.
Ruto described the refinery as an East African investment whose significance extends beyond Kenya, saying the participation of African leaders and their representatives demonstrated wider continental support for the project and its potential to strengthen regional economic cooperation.
He said the refinery represents an opportunity to advance energy security and industrialization while creating a wider industrial ecosystem around the project. The Kenyan President also linked the development to the LAPSSET Corridor, saying the refinery could give greater economic purpose to the port and transport infrastructure by generating demand for transport, engineering, contracting and other services.
Ruto further emphasized the broader African economic rationale behind the project, saying the continent needs to move beyond exporting raw materials and importing finished products by developing greater capacity to process resources, manufacture goods and retain more value within Africa.
He also highlighted the role of African private capital in driving such projects, pointing to Aliko Dangote’s investments across the continent as an example of African enterprise contributing to industrial development and regional economic cooperation.
The Kenyan President has also framed the refinery as more than an energy project, highlighting its potential contribution to industrialization, job creation and human-capital development. Kenyan media reported that the project is expected to create about 60,000 jobs and support wider business opportunities around the refinery and its associated industries.
Kenyan media have reported that the refinery is being positioned as a regional facility, with potential markets extending beyond Kenya to countries including Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The $16 billion project, being developed by Aliko Dangote’s Dangote Group, is planned to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and is expected to strengthen regional energy security by increasing local refining capacity and reducing dependence on imported refined petroleum products.