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The refinery is being developed at a time when Kenya remains heavily dependent on imported petroleum products. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that petroleum-product imports increased by 12.2% to 5.5 million tonnes in 2025, while domestic demand rose by 9.9% to 5.7 million tonnes. The country's petroleum import bill stood at Sh528.8 billion during the year
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Mokowe, Lamu County, on Wednesday, Ruto said investors should be regarded as development partners and warned those he accused of using disputes and court cases to seek private negotiations with investors
ong the products expected from the facility is polypropylene, which he said could help meet the needs of Kenya’s plastics manufacturers.
Justice Jane Onyango sitting at the Malindi Environment and Land Court, said the applicants had sought to stop the groundbreaking and development of the project, but the court did not grant the request.
According to Kalonzo, more than 4,000 acres are at the heart of the dispute, with residents allegedly losing their homes after a night-time operation that left an entire village demolished.
The case has been filed at the Environment and Land Court by a coalition of 4,640 citizens identifying themselves as Friends of Nairobi National Park.
The decision, delivered in Nairobi on Friday by Justices W. Karanja, F. Tuiyott and W. Korir, reinforces an earlier ruling by the Environment and Land Court (ELC), which found that the land on which the two schools sit had already been surrendered to the Government and therefore remained public land.
According to the petitioners, the camp was constructed along a key wildlife movement route used by nearly 1.5 million wildebeest, zebras and other animals during the annual migration.
The ruling marks the third conservatory order issued in relation to the disputed project, which has attracted opposition from activists, residents and environmental lobby groups concerned about the future of the forest.
Friends of Nairobi National Park said they are preparing to use all legal and civic options to block the project, insisting the proposal risks weakening the ecological balance of the 117-square-kilometre park located near Nairobi’s central business district.
The petition is backed by squatters who say they have historical ties to the area and is rooted in land excisions carried out in 1975 and 1977.
The land in question, located within Kitale Municipality Block 11/18, had been unlawfully acquired by the late Charles Lugano in 1999.