Matiang’i Demands Transparency in Sh2.2 Trillion Dangote Refinery Project

Jubilee presidential aspirant Dr Fred Matiang’i has called for parliamentary scrutiny of Kenya’s agreements with private investors, citing the Dangote East African petroleum refinery project in Lamu.

Speaking on Monday at the start of a five-day tour of the Coast region, Matiang’i said commercial interests and national security concerns should not prevent Parliament from examining government agreements. He said contracts involving significant public resources should be submitted to the relevant parliamentary committees for review. 

Parliament, he said, should be able to establish whether such agreements protect Kenya’s interests. Matiang’i said withholding agreements without adequate justification could weaken institutional oversight and give the Executive excessive discretion over major economic projects.

His comments come as attention focuses on the Sh2.2 trillion refinery project in Lamu, which was recently launched by the government and is expected to take about 40 months to complete. The project is projected to create up to 60,000 jobs.

The scale of the investment has raised questions about the terms of the government’s participation, including the disclosure of agreements and the nature of the State’s interest in the refinery. Matiang’i said these issues should be addressed through proper parliamentary oversight.

The refinery is being presented as both an economic investment and a strategic petroleum project. While commercially sensitive information may require protection, Matiang’i said confidentiality should not be used as a blanket reason for withholding agreements from institutions mandated to provide constitutional oversight.

Matiang’i spoke during a press conference where Jubilee also announced a political partnership with Kadu Asili, as the opposition party seeks to strengthen its presence at the Coast ahead of the 2027 General Election. Kadu Asili leader Muzo Nzili said the partnership would focus on longstanding issues affecting the region, including land ownership and squatter settlements, mining activities around Mrima, access to marine and blue-economy resources, and employment opportunities at the Kenya Ports Authority and other public institutions.

Nzili, a former national chairman of the Kenya National Union of Teachers, endorsed Matiang’i’s presidential bid. He cited Matiang’i’s record as Education Cabinet Secretary and his experience in government as evidence of his ability to address concerns over political and economic marginalisation at the Coast.

Matiang’i welcomed the partnership, describing it as part of Jubilee’s efforts to bring opposition parties together rather than build a political movement dominated by a single organisation. The alliance gives Jubilee a stronger platform to engage voters in a region where land, resource distribution, employment and political representation remain key concerns.

Matiang’i also pledged to support a proposed Coast Region Integrated Development Plan covering 2027 to 2037. He said the framework would help coordinate infrastructure development and economic investment across the region.

He said opposition parties were also continuing discussions on whether to present a common leadership team for the 2027 elections. Any agreement, he said, should be reached through consultation, consensus and mutual respect.