Kenyan Presidential Hopeful Threatens Dangote Over Refinery Ambitions

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has received a stern warning from Kenyan presidential candidate Patrick Osoi, who has cautioned against any hasty plans to establish a refinery in Kenya. Osoi, during a recent campaign gathering, made it clear that if elected, his government would prioritize and champion local enterprises over foreign investments.

The presidential hopeful asserted that by the time he assumes office, which he anticipates will be in February of next year, Kenya would possess the necessary capabilities to manage its own refinery operations. He directly addressed Dangote, stating, “I want to tell Dangote, please don’t hurry up to start the refinery because by next year February, the time I’m sworn in as the president of this country, you’ll be back going to Nigeria.”

Osoi further elaborated that Kenya is not lacking in refinery infrastructure or skilled local businesspeople capable of undertaking such significant projects without the need for external investors. He emphasized, “We have refinery which can do that job. We also have business people in this country who can do that job.”

He concluded his remarks by reaffirming that a core tenet of his potential administration would be to bolster Kenyan entrepreneurs and strengthen indigenous industries, making these priorities should he secure the presidency.