Pwani 2050 Commons - User contributions [en]

Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform

2026-10-16T01:45:53Z

Jay: Superficial edit so the approved revision is translated again and its hero photo reaches the front door

{{Hero
| image = Tea withering at Rukuriri Tea Factory.jpg
| alt = Two factory workers in green overalls and white caps turning freshly picked green tea leaves on long withering troughs inside a tea factory
| position = center
}}
{{Infobox project
| name = Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform
| status = proposed
| theme = Industry
| counties = Mombasa
| lead_organisation = Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa
| partners = Small and medium tea exporters, approved Common User Facility providers
| budget = 518,000,000
| funding_source = US$1 million equity and US$3 million debt sought from blended finance
| start_year =
| end_year =
| website = https://edicpwani.ke/tea-value-addittion/
}}

The '''Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform''' is a project within the [[Industry]] theme. Promoted by the [[Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa]] (EDIC), it proposes to help small and medium Kenyan tea exporters move from selling bulk black tea to selling packed, branded and specialty tea, by linking them to shared processing facilities, brand and market support, and trade finance. It seeks US$1 million in equity and US$3 million in debt; the infobox converts the US$4 million total to about KES 518 million at the Tea Board of Kenya's 2025 mean exchange rate of KES 129.50 to the dollar. It sits alongside, but is not formally linked to, the national government's plans for tea Common User Facilities in Mombasa.

== What it is ==
EDIC's page, titled "Moving Kenyan Tea from Bulk Commodity to Premium Export", describes a coordinated platform connecting SME exporters to processing, branding, markets and finance. Processing would be done through "approved Common User Facility providers", and finance would take the form of purchase-order finance, receivables finance and bridge facilities backed by letters of credit or cash against documents. It projects throughput rising from 2.5 million kg to 30 million kg by year five, 40 to 60 direct jobs at the facility and 125 to 240 indirect jobs, 500 to 700 SMEs graduating into substantial exporters, up to 10 foreign tea processors attracted, and about 66,000 farmer livelihoods stabilised.<ref name="edic">[https://edicpwani.ke/tea-value-addittion/ Tea Value Addition: Moving Kenyan Tea from Bulk Commodity to Premium Export], Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa, undated, read 15 October 2026.</ref> EDIC lists it as one of its priorities for Greater Mombasa.<ref name="edic-home">[https://edicpwani.ke/#OurPriorities Our Priorities], Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa, undated, read 15 October 2026.</ref> The page names no partner, operator, financier or site.

Mombasa is the natural home for such a platform because it hosts the tea auction, through which most Kenyan tea is sold.<ref name="unsold">[https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/markets/commodities/unsold-tea-at-mombasa-auction-hits-yearly-high-as-levy-bites-5490278 Unsold tea at Mombasa auction hits yearly high as levy bites], Anthony Kitimo, Business Daily, 9 June 2026.</ref> The county's development plan for 2023 to 2027 lists the "Establishment of Tea blending and packaging facility" as its contribution to the national tea value chain.<ref name="cidp">[[:File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027]], County Government of Mombasa, 2023, printed page 209.</ref>

== Rationale ==
EDIC's case rests on the gap between bulk and specialty prices. It cites a five-year average bulk black CTC price of US$2.11 per kg against specialty tea at US$15 to US$290 per kg, says black CTC is Kenya's leading export at US$1.37 billion and supports some 600,000 farmers, and estimates that moving from 5 to 10 per cent value-added exports over five years could lift Kenya's tea earnings by 36 per cent, to US$493 million.<ref name="edic" /> EDIC does not give sources for these figures.

Official data broadly support the premise. The Tea Board of Kenya reports that in 2025 Kenya exported 652.8 million kg of tea worth KES 186.91 billion, at an average export price of US$2.21 per kg.<ref name="tbk4">[[:File:Tea Board of Kenya - Tea Industry Performance Highlights 2025.pdf|Kenya Tea Industry Performance Highlights 2025]], Tea Board of Kenya, April 2026, PDF page 4.</ref> Only 25.36 million kg, or 4 per cent of export volume, left the country in value-added form.<ref name="tbk7">[[:File:Tea Board of Kenya - Tea Industry Performance Highlights 2025.pdf|Kenya Tea Industry Performance Highlights 2025]], PDF page 7.</ref> Orthodox teas at the new specialty auction sold for US$3.20 to US$3.41 per kg.<ref>[[:File:Tea Board of Kenya - Tea Industry Performance Highlights 2025.pdf|Kenya Tea Industry Performance Highlights 2025]], PDF page 10.</ref> A KIPPRA study found that most Kenyan tea is exported in 50 to 70 kg sacks with minimal value addition, and that buyers abroad blend it with teas from other origins and sell it under their own brands at higher prices.<ref name="kippra">[[:File:KIPPRA DP230 - Employment Creation Potential of the Tea Sector in Kenya.pdf|Assessing the Employment Creation Potential of the Tea Sector in Kenya]], KIPPRA Discussion Paper No. 230, Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, December 2020, printed page 25.</ref>

The law sets an ambitious target. Section 48 of the Tea Act 2020 requires tea buyers and exporters to value-add at least 40 per cent of their annual Kenya tea exports within eight years of the Act's commencement, and directs the Cabinet Secretary to facilitate the establishment of a Common User Facility for tea value addition.<ref name="act">[[:File:Tea Act 2020.pdf|Tea Act, 2020 (No. 23 of 2020)]], Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 236, 24 December 2020, printed page 289.</ref> The Act defines value addition as improvements on made tea through packaging, blending, flavouring, extracts, aroma and branding.<ref>[[:File:Tea Act 2020.pdf|Tea Act, 2020]], printed page 269.</ref> President William Ruto has set a target of raising value-added exports from about 5 per cent to at least 50 per cent in the medium term.<ref name="state-house">[https://www.president.go.ke/government-investing-in-value-addition-to-curb-export-of-raw-materials/ Government investing in value addition to curb export of raw materials], The Presidency, 1 October 2025.</ref>

== Status and timeline ==
The idea of a shared tea packing facility predates EDIC. In November 2017 the Tea Directorate set up a committee on establishing a common user blending and packaging facility for small packers.<ref>[https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/markets/market-news/team-to-help-finance-small-firms-tea-exports-formed-2184958 Team to help finance small firms' tea exports formed], Gerald Andae, Business Daily, 10 January 2018.</ref> In October 2022 President Ruto said the government would work with the industry to build a shared value-addition facility at the Dongo Kundu special economic zone in Mombasa.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/president-ruto-directs-trade-ministry-develop-tea-brand-for-farmers-good-returns/ President Ruto directs Trade Ministry to develop tea brand for farmers' good returns], Capital FM, 5 October 2022.</ref> In March 2024 the government reported that the National Treasury had approved a concept note for a Common User Facility in Mombasa at Dongo Kundu.<ref>[https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/tea-earnings-post-better-returns-last-year/ Tea earnings post better returns last year], Wangari Ndirangu, Kenya News Agency, 1 March 2024.</ref> In June 2024 the government committed KES 1 billion to two value-addition centres in Kericho and Nairobi.<ref>[https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/coast/2024-06-20-state-allocates-sh1-billion-for-construction-of-two-tea-value-addition-centres-ruto State allocates Sh1 billion for construction of two tea value addition centres], The Star, 20 June 2024.</ref> In March 2025 Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe told the Senate the government would allocate land for a Common User Facility at Dongo Kundu and facilitate joint ventures and public private partnerships in tea value addition there.<ref>[https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2025-03-12-kagwe-state-to-ensure-better-tea-returns Kagwe: State to ensure better tea returns], Perpetua Etyang, The Star, 12 March 2025.</ref> The Tea Board reports that it has held talks with international and local private tea companies interested in setting up a Common User Facility in a special economic zone.<ref name="tbk8">[[:File:Tea Board of Kenya - Tea Industry Performance Highlights 2025.pdf|Kenya Tea Industry Performance Highlights 2025]], PDF page 8.</ref>

EDIC's council named a tea Common User Facility among its three flagship projects in mid-2026, and listed the Tea SME Export Enablement Platform first among its priorities at its second-quarter meeting.<ref>[https://edicpwani.ke/from-ideas-to-action-edic-pwanis-2026-agenda-for-coastal-growth/ From Ideas to Action: EDIC-Pwani's 2026 Agenda for Coastal Growth], Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa, 2026.</ref><ref>[https://edicpwani.ke/edic-council-meeting-turning-vision-into-implementation/ EDIC Council Meeting: Turning Vision into Implementation], Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa, 2026.</ref> On 9 and 10 October 2026 President Ruto announced 50 acres for a KTDA tea value-addition plant in Mombasa, with other investors to be encouraged to build alongside it; one report places the land in the Dongo Kundu special economic zone and another at the port.<ref name="ktda50">[https://capitalfm.africa/ruto-announces-sh850mn-upgrade-for-17-tea-factories-50-acres-for-ktda-plant Ruto announces Sh850mn upgrade for 17 tea factories, 50 acres for KTDA plant], Capital FM, 10 October 2026.</ref><ref>[https://www.dawan.africa/news/ruto-orders-tea-value-addition-facility-at-mombasa-port-demands-transparency-on-factory-bonuses Ruto orders tea value addition facility at Mombasa port, demands transparency on factory bonuses], Pascal Ndegwa, Dawan Africa, 9 October 2026.</ref> As of October 2026 EDIC has not announced an agreement, financier, operator or site for its platform, and no source links it to the KTDA plant or the government's facility.

=== How the project is being procured ===
No Terms of Reference or tender for this platform, or for a Mombasa tea Common User Facility, has been published by the National Treasury's PPP Directorate.<ref name="ppp">[https://pppkenya.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/KENYA-PPP-PROJECTS-PROGRESS-STATUS-REPORT-30TH-JUNE-2026-2.pdf Kenya PPP Projects Progress Status Report, 30th June 2026], PPP Directorate, The National Treasury, August 2026.</ref> EDIC describes itself as a deal structurer rather than a lender, raising blended finance from development finance institutions, banks, pension funds, impact investors and donors,<ref name="edic-home" /> so the platform would be a privately financed vehicle. The government's own facilities are moving through ministerial directives, the Tea Board and KTDA rather than a public private partnership tender.<ref name="ktda50" /><ref name="tbk8" />

== Who is involved ==
EDIC is a multi-stakeholder council for Greater Mombasa, co-created with the Swahilipot Hub Foundation and incubated by GDI Africa, with Dr Kevit Desai as chair and John Kashangaki as executive director.<ref name="edic-home" /> The wider tea value-addition effort involves the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the Tea Board of Kenya, the Kenya Tea Development Agency and its packing arm Ketepa, the East African Tea Trade Association which runs the Mombasa auction, and the Special Economic Zones Authority at Dongo Kundu.<ref name="tbk8" /><ref name="ktda50" /> No partner, financier or Common User Facility provider for EDIC's platform has been named.

* [https://edicpwani.ke/ Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa]
* [https://www.teaboard.or.ke/ Tea Board of Kenya]
* [https://www.ktdateas.com/ Kenya Tea Development Agency]

== Concerns and counterpoints ==
No critic has yet commented in public on the EDIC platform itself. The points below come from commentary on Kenyan tea value addition and from a comparison of EDIC's figures with official data.

=== Market access and branding ===
Flora Mutahi, chief executive of Melvins Tea, says the hardest barriers are finding packaging good enough for premium shelves abroad and building brand awareness in foreign markets, and calls for a national country-brand campaign.<ref>[https://african.business/2025/08/resources/kenyas-tea-exports-soar-amid-renewed-focus-on-value-addition Kenya's tea exports soar amid renewed focus on value addition], Lennox Yieke, African Business, 6 August 2025.</ref> A market study for the Netherlands' CBI found the European market for bagged tea dominated by large brands and "very difficult" for new entrants, and suggested private-label packing for retailers instead.<ref>[https://www.cbi.eu/sites/default/files/market-information/tailored-study-kenyan-tea-packed-origin-europe-promising-export-markets-tea-2014.pdf Promising export markets for Kenyan tea packed at origin], CBI (Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries), 2014.</ref> Ecofin Agency argues that new markets do little while Kenyan tea remains a standardised commodity, and reports exporters' complaints about county levies, transport costs and taxes on packaging.<ref>[https://www.ecofinagency.com/news-agriculture/1808-58195-kenyas-tea-is-chasing-new-buyers-in-china-and-south-africa-but-with-additional-cost Kenya's tea is chasing new buyers in China and South Africa, but with additional cost], Georges Auréole Bamba, Ecofin Agency, 18 August 2026.</ref> KIPPRA found that import duties on packaging materials and machinery undercut the value-addition directive.<ref>[[:File:KIPPRA DP230 - Employment Creation Potential of the Tea Sector in Kenya.pdf|Assessing the Employment Creation Potential of the Tea Sector in Kenya]], printed page 6.</ref> The Tea Board points to the government's removal of VAT on tea bought for value addition as part of its response.<ref name="tbk7" />

=== Factory capacity and the KTDA record ===
Tea factory leaders in Embu told the Kenya News Agency in 2023 that orthodox and flavoured tea lines are too costly for factories to fund alone, and that Rukuriri factory had to truck its tea to Ketepa in Kericho to be bagged; they asked for about KES 100 million for a tea-bag line.<ref>[https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/tea-sector-leaders-seek-government-support-in-value-addition/ Tea sector leaders seek government support in value addition], Samuel Waititu, Kenya News Agency, 28 May 2023.</ref> The new government and KTDA facilities could also compete with, or crowd out, a private SME platform, and EDIC has not said which approved facilities its exporters would use.<ref name="edic" /><ref name="ktda50" />

=== The auction and sector reform ===
Kenya's tea sector is in the middle of contested reforms. Direct sales, an export levy and changes to how farmers are paid have divided the industry, and Tea Board chief executive Willy Mutai has defended the 2026 levy, saying its cost falls on consumers and pointing to improved auction absorption.<ref>[https://the-star.co.ke/counties/central/2026-07-09-tbk-defends-tea-levy-as-june-auction-delivers-sh13bn-to-farmers TBK defends tea levy as June auction delivers Sh13bn to farmers], Alice Waithera, The Star, 9 July 2026.</ref> Unsold tea at the Mombasa auction reached 27 per cent at one sale in June 2026, which the East African Tea Trade Association blamed on Middle East logistics and the levy.<ref name="unsold" /> The Tea Act itself has been challenged in court by 52 factories and by members of the tea growers' and traders' associations.<ref>[https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/markets/commodities/appeals-court-suspends-hearing-of-anti-tea-act-petition-3906616 Appeals court suspends hearing of anti-Tea Act petition], Sam Kiplagat, Business Daily, 7 August 2022.</ref> A platform for small exporters would operate in this unsettled environment.

=== EDIC's figures against official data ===
Some of EDIC's headline numbers are hard to reconcile with official statistics. Its year-five throughput of 30 million kg would exceed Kenya's entire value-added tea exports in 2025, which were 25.36 million kg.<ref name="edic" /><ref name="tbk7" /> Its projected earnings of US$493 million after a 36 per cent rise imply a starting figure of about US$362 million, far below the roughly US$1.44 billion Kenya earned from all tea exports in 2025.<ref name="tbk4" /> It cites about 600,000 farmers, while official sources count more than 834,000 smallholders.<ref>[https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2026-04-04-kenya-tea-rebounds-to-sh218bn-as-reforms-laws-reshape-sector Kenya tea rebounds to Sh218bn as reforms, laws reshape sector], Alice Waithera, The Star, 4 April 2026.</ref> Its 10 per cent target is also far more modest than the 40 per cent required by the Tea Act and the 50 per cent set by the President.<ref name="act" /><ref name="state-house" /> The comparisons in this paragraph are this page's own arithmetic from the cited sources.

== Sources ==
* [[:File:Tea Board of Kenya - Tea Industry Performance Highlights 2025.pdf|Kenya Tea Industry Performance Highlights 2025]], Tea Board of Kenya, April 2026.
* [[:File:Tea Act 2020.pdf|Tea Act, 2020]], Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 236, 24 December 2020.
* [[:File:KIPPRA DP230 - Employment Creation Potential of the Tea Sector in Kenya.pdf|Assessing the Employment Creation Potential of the Tea Sector in Kenya]], KIPPRA, December 2020.
* [[:File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027]], County Government of Mombasa, 2023.
* [https://edicpwani.ke/tea-value-addittion/ Tea Value Addition], Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa.
* [https://www.parliament.go.ke/sites/default/files/2024-09/Report%20on%20the%20Tea%20%28%20Amendment%29%20Bill%2C%202023%20%28%20Senate%20Bills%20No.%201%20of%202023%29.pdf Report on the Tea (Amendment) Bill, 2023], Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, September 2024.
* [https://www.president.go.ke/government-investing-in-value-addition-to-curb-export-of-raw-materials/ Government investing in value addition to curb export of raw materials], The Presidency, 1 October 2025.

== References ==
<references />

Mombasa Convention Centre

2026-10-16T01:45:53Z

Jay: Superficial edit so the approved revision is translated again and its hero photo reaches the front door

{{Hero
| image = Mombasa Convention Centre concept illustration.jpg
| alt = AI-generated concept illustration of a curving convention centre with tusk-shaped arches, a solar roof and zebra-patterned facade on the Mombasa waterfront, with exhibition tents and lorries in the foreground
| position = center
}}
{{Infobox project
| name = Mombasa Convention Centre (MICE Convention Precinct)
| status = proposed
| theme = Tourism
| counties = Mombasa
| lead_organisation = Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa
| partners = County Government of Mombasa, Mombasa Investment Corporation, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife
| budget = 10,000,000,000
| funding_source = Build-operate-transfer public private partnership, with county land provided in kind
| start_year = 2023
| end_year = 2027
| website = https://edicpwani.ke/mice-convention-precinct/
}}

The '''Mombasa Convention Centre''' is a project within the [[Tourism]] theme. It is a proposed international convention and exhibition centre for Mombasa, intended to let the coast host large conferences, exhibitions and other business events (the "MICE" market of meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions). The idea has been put forward several times since 2012. It now appears in three overlapping forms: a flagship project in the [[Mombasa County]] Integrated Development Plan for 2023 to 2027, a "Mombasa International Convention Centre" in the national Ministry of Tourism's strategic plan, and a "MICE Convention Precinct" promoted by the [[Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa]] (EDIC). Their costs, sites and sizes differ, and no published document reconciles them. The infobox uses the county plan's budget of KES 10 billion.

== What it is ==
EDIC describes the project as a purpose-built venue for conferences, exhibitions and events, comprising a convention centre, a hotel and a MICE bureau, with capacity for 5,000 delegates and a budget of US$120 million. It proposes a build-operate-transfer public private partnership in which the county government provides prime public land in kind, and projects 2,500 jobs in the first five years.<ref name="edic">[https://edicpwani.ke/mice-convention-precinct/ MICE Convention Precinct: Building the Coast's Flagship Business and Events Destination], Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa, undated, read 15 October 2026.</ref> EDIC's list of priorities places it in Nyali, Mombasa.<ref name="edic-home">[https://edicpwani.ke/#OurPriorities Our Priorities], Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa, undated, read 15 October 2026.</ref>

The county's own plan lists a flagship project called "MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conference & Exhibitions)" in Nyali Sub-county, to provide ultramodern conference facilities and make Mombasa "a conference Tourism destination of choice", over 2023 to 2027 at an estimated KES 10 billion, led by the county department of Tourism, Culture and Trade and the Mombasa Investment Corporation.<ref name="cidp23">[[:File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027]], County Government of Mombasa, 2023, printed page 200 (Table 49, County Flagship Projects).</ref> The same plan lists "Construct the Mombasa Conference Center" among the governor's commitments.<ref>[[:File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027]], printed page 203.</ref> The county's 2026/27 Annual Development Plan restates the flagship with the indicator "Investor secured for establishment of MICE" and names the Mombasa Investment Corporation as lead, with the Trade and Lands departments.<ref name="adp">[[:File:Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026/2027]], County Government of Mombasa, printed page 263.</ref>

At national level, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife's strategic plan for 2023 to 2027 includes "Construction of Mombasa International Convention Centre" alongside proposed centres in the Great Rift, Isiolo and Eldoret, under a wider aim to develop convention centres across the country.<ref name="motw">[[:File:Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Strategic Plan 2023-2027.pdf|Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Strategic Plan 2023-2027]], Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, 2024, PDF pages 54 and 55.</ref> A national investment listing describes a Mombasa convention centre for up to 5,000 delegates at US$80 million, sited near the port and major hotels, for which the county government is seeking strategic investors.<ref name="investkenya">[https://www.investkenya.go.ke/mombasa-convention-centre/ Mombasa Convention Centre], Invest Kenya, undated, read 15 October 2026.</ref>

Estimates of cost therefore range from US$80 million to US$120 million, against KES 10 billion in the county plan. A county urban regeneration plan forwarded to the national government in about 2019 put a Mombasa International Convention Centre at US$58 million to US$97 million.<ref>[https://constructionreviewonline.com/news/kenya/mombasa-county-in-kenya-forwards-multi-million-upgrade-plan-to-state Mombasa County in Kenya forwards multi-million upgrade plan to state], Construction Review, about 2019.</ref>

== Rationale ==
EDIC argues that the coast has no international-standard MICE facility, that existing venues cap at about 2,500 delegates, and that Mombasa hosts only 5 of Kenya's 29 major association meetings a year. It points to Kenya's 2.5 million tourism arrivals in 2025, growth of 14 per cent in coastal international arrivals and of 140 per cent in cruise tourism, and aims at the "bleisure" market of business travellers who extend their stay.<ref name="edic" /> Governor Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir has used the same association-meeting figures, telling the Kenya Coast Tourism Association that Kenya hosted only 29 of more than 11,000 association conferences worldwide, five of them at the coast, and urging the industry to set up convention bureaus and push for open skies.<ref name="nassir">[https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/?p=171941 Mombasa to tap into emerging conference tourism], Kenya News Agency, 26 September 2025.</ref>

Official figures put Kenya's 2025 international arrivals at about 2.7 million, earning about KES 500 billion, with business travel accounting for 19 per cent.<ref>[https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2026-04-03-surge-in-tourist-arrivals-earned-kenya-sh500bn-in-2025 Surge in tourist arrivals earned Kenya Sh500bn in 2025], Emmanuel Wanjala, The Star, 3 April 2026.</ref> The Ministry of Tourism reports that MICE travellers made up 27 per cent of international arrivals in 2024.<ref>[https://www.tourismupdate.com/article/kenya-in-push-to-become-mice-powerhouse Kenya in push to become MICE powerhouse], Harriet Akinyi, Tourism Update, 25 March 2025.</ref>

== Status and timeline ==
The idea is old. In October 2012 the Tourism Minister said the ministry had been allocated 10 acres at Haller Park for a green international convention centre and was seeking development partners.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/kenya-mulls-top-notch-meeting-centre-in-mombasa/ Kenya mulls top notch meeting centre in Mombasa], Charles Gichane, Capital FM, 5 October 2012.</ref> In March 2017 the Tourism Finance Corporation sought investors for a conference centre on a four-acre coastal plot.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/tfc-seeks-investors-for-conference-centre-in-mombasa-to-rival-kicc/ TFC seeks investors for international conference centre in Mombasa], Kennedy Kangethe, Capital FM, 27 March 2017.</ref> In 2018 the Kenya Tourism Federation said the industry was pushing for a Mombasa centre for up to 5,000 people.<ref>[https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/counties/4003142-4576380-lt156h/index.html Rising govt, global conferences boost Kenya coast hotels], Eunice Murathe, Business Daily, 23 May 2018.</ref> The county's 2018 to 2022 plan budgeted KES 300 million for "construction of international conventional Centres" in Nyali, with a target of one fully operational international convention centre under a public private partnership.<ref name="cidp18">[[:File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2022.pdf|Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2022]], County Government of Mombasa, printed pages 87 and 139.</ref> That centre was not built.

The State Department for Tourism reports that a feasibility study for the Mombasa International Convention Centre was carried out during 2018 to 2022.<ref name="sdt">[[:File:State Department for Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2027.pdf|State Department for Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2027]], State Department for Tourism, 2024, PDF page 17.</ref> That study has not been published. The county's 2023 to 2027 plan records that the land for the convention centre still had to be identified and secured, and lists as a risk the "delays in identification of land and an updated feasibility study to support the investment".<ref>[[:File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027]], printed page 241.</ref> In its review of 2024/25, the county reports a target of one convention centre and an achievement of none.<ref>[[:File:Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026/2027]], printed pages 33 and 34.</ref>

EDIC says its pre-feasibility study is complete, that eight hotel operators have been engaged, and that discussions are advancing with three; none is named.<ref name="edic" /> Its council reviewed the investment case for the convention precinct at its second-quarter meeting in 2026.<ref>[https://edicpwani.ke/edic-council-meeting-turning-vision-into-implementation/ EDIC Council Meeting: Turning Vision into Implementation], Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa, 2026.</ref> As of October 2026 no site, operator, financier or signed agreement has been made public.

=== How the project is being procured ===
No Terms of Reference, request for proposals or transaction advisory tender for a Mombasa convention centre has been published by the National Treasury's PPP Directorate, and the project does not appear in the Directorate's June 2026 status report.<ref name="ppp">[https://pppkenya.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/KENYA-PPP-PROJECTS-PROGRESS-STATUS-REPORT-30TH-JUNE-2026-2.pdf Kenya PPP Projects Progress Status Report, 30th June 2026], PPP Directorate, The National Treasury, August 2026.</ref> The county plan frames the route as securing an investor through the Mombasa Investment Corporation,<ref name="adp" /> and EDIC presents a build-operate-transfer partnership with hotel operators already in talks.<ref name="edic" /> The legal pathway, whether a competitive tender or a privately initiated proposal under the Public Private Partnerships Act, has not been stated.

== Who is involved ==
EDIC describes itself as a multi-stakeholder council for Greater Mombasa, covering Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale, co-created with the Swahilipot Hub Foundation and incubated by GDI Africa. Its council is chaired by Dr Kevit Desai and its executive director is John Kashangaki. It says it is not a lender, and that it structures projects and mobilises blended finance.<ref name="edic-home" /> The County Government of Mombasa, through its Tourism, Culture and Trade department and the Mombasa Investment Corporation, leads the county flagship.<ref name="cidp23" /> The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and its State Department for Tourism carry the national version.<ref name="motw" /><ref name="sdt" /> No hotel operator, financier or transaction adviser has been named.

* [https://edicpwani.ke/ Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa]
* [https://www.mombasa.go.ke/ County Government of Mombasa]
* [https://www.tourism.go.ke/ Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife]

== Concerns and counterpoints ==
No critic has yet commented in public on the EDIC proposal itself. The points below come from the official record and from commentary on the coast's conference market and on convention centres more generally.

=== Demand and existing venues ===
EDIC's case rests on the claim that coastal venues cap at about 2,500 delegates.<ref name="edic" /> Since then the privately built Tembo International Convention Centre at the PrideInn Flamingo resort hosted the 11th Our Ocean Conference in June 2026 with more than 6,000 delegates, and PrideInn's managing director Hasnain Noorani described it as the largest convention centre on the coast.<ref>[https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/?p=166932 Mombasa's global ocean conference boosts push for MICE tourism growth], Sadik Hassan, Kenya News Agency, 18 June 2026.</ref> Industry voices quoted by Tourism Update argue that the binding constraints are elsewhere: hospitality consultant Håvar Bauck says many older coastal hotels are worn down and short of management capacity, Victor Shitakha of the Kenya Coast Tourism Association points to ageing resorts and a lack of international luxury brands, and Noorani says the infrastructure is now built and "the only thing left is to go out and tell the world".<ref>[https://www.tourismupdate.com/article/mombasa-bets-big-on-mice Mombasa bets big on MICE], Harriet Akinyi, Tourism Update, 30 June 2026.</ref> Governor Nassir's own remedies for the low conference count were convention bureaus, open skies and direct flights, rather than a new building.<ref name="nassir" />

=== National competition and public cost ===
The national government is already building the Bomas International Convention Complex in Nairobi, whose cost has risen from KES 31.5 billion to more than KES 42 billion; the Auditor-General has flagged direct procurement and the use of the Tourism Fund without adequate oversight, and Jeffers Miruka of the Association for Kenya Business Events says shifting timelines weaken Kenya's credibility as a destination.<ref>[https://www.tourismupdate.com/article/delays-cloud-kenyas-mice-ambitions Delays cloud Kenya's MICE ambitions], Harriet Akinyi, Tourism Update, 15 May 2026.</ref> A second large publicly backed venue on the coast would compete for the same limited pool of international association meetings. Elsewhere in the region, the Kigali Convention Centre's cost rose well beyond its original budget,<ref>[https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/rwanda-could-sever-links-with-convention-centre-contractor--1334164 Rwanda could sever links with convention centre contractor], The EastAfrican, about 2015.</ref> and Arusha's AICC was reported to be losing about TSh 1.8 billion a year after its anchor tenants moved out.<ref>[https://thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/-aicc-loses-sh1-8bn-annually-after-key-tenants-move-out-2647042 AICC loses Sh1.8bn annually after key tenants move out], The Citizen (Tanzania).</ref> In the wider literature, Heywood Sanders' Brookings study argued that convention-centre supply has outrun demand and that consultants' feasibility studies tend to overstate hotel-night gains, a view the convention industry has contested.<ref>[https://www.brookings.edu/articles/space-available-the-realities-of-convention-centers-as-economic-development-strategy/ Space Available: The Realities of Convention Centers as Economic Development Strategy], Heywood Sanders, Brookings Institution, January 2005.</ref>

=== Delivery record, land and transparency ===
The county's own plans show the project carried forward since at least 2018 without a site or a built centre, with the land still unidentified in 2023 and nothing achieved against the 2024/25 target.<ref name="cidp18" /><ref>[[:File:Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026/2027]], printed pages 33 and 34.</ref> EDIC's model relies on prime public land given in kind, but no parcel, valuation or allocation process has been published, and the national feasibility study is not public. Public land on the Mombasa shoreline has a contested history: rights groups including Muslims for Human Rights and Haki Africa have accused the county and NEMA of shielding beach developments that encroached on the shoreline, a charge the county said it would investigate.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/nema-mombasa-county-accused-of-abetting-illegal-construction-on-beach/ NEMA, Mombasa County accused of abetting illegal construction on beach], Capital FM, 17 August 2018.</ref> These concerns are not about this project, but they bear on how any in-kind land allocation for it would be scrutinised.

== Sources ==
* [[:File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027]], County Government of Mombasa, 2023.
* [[:File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2022.pdf|Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2022]], County Government of Mombasa, 2018.
* [[:File:Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026/2027]], County Government of Mombasa.
* [[:File:Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Strategic Plan 2023-2027.pdf|Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Strategic Plan 2023-2027]], Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.
* [[:File:State Department for Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2027.pdf|State Department for Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2027]], State Department for Tourism.
* [https://edicpwani.ke/mice-convention-precinct/ MICE Convention Precinct], Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa.
* [https://www.investkenya.go.ke/mombasa-convention-centre/ Mombasa Convention Centre], Invest Kenya.
* [https://pppkenya.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/KENYA-PPP-PROJECTS-PROGRESS-STATUS-REPORT-30TH-JUNE-2026-2.pdf Kenya PPP Projects Progress Status Report, 30th June 2026], PPP Directorate. The convention centre is not listed.

== References ==
<references />

Lamu Spaceport

2026-10-16T01:45:53Z

Jay: Superficial edit so the approved revision is translated again and its hero photo reaches the front door

{{Hero
| image = Lamu Spaceport.png
| alt = Illustration of a spaceport terminal and control tower among green coastal bush beside a river
| position = center
}}
{{Infobox project
| name =
| status =
| theme = Industry
| counties =
| lead_organisation =
| partners =
| budget =
| funding_source =
| start_year =
| end_year =
| website =
}}

'''Lamu Spaceport''' is a project within the [[Industry]] theme.

== What it is ==
Describe the project in a few sentences, and cite where each fact comes from.

A 2024 conference paper by Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro sets out the drivers for a spaceport on the Kenyan coast, though it focuses on the existing Broglio Space Center at Malindi. It argues that the coast's equatorial position and eastward-facing ocean improve fuel efficiency and satellite deployment trajectories.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 1.</ref> It also says the eastward orientation of the coastline provides a naturally safe crash zone over the ocean for launch accidents or staging jettisons.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 3.</ref> On cost, the paper gives a rough estimate of a mass saving of roughly 151 kg per Soyuz launch compared with Cape Canaveral, or $755,000 per launch, and notes that the calculation makes some assumptions.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 3.</ref> It names the deep-water port of Lamu, less than 120 km from Malindi, and the LAPSSet Corridor highway project as links to the launch location.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 5.</ref>

A case study paper by Meshack Ndiritu and Selina Hayes, presented at the 75th International Astronautical Congress in 2024, takes up the case for a public private partnership to establish an equatorial spaceport. Its abstract says the demand for more spaceports is rising, and estimates that the population of active satellites in orbit is surpassing 10,000, with an average of 50 launched weekly.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> In its base case scenario, 27,000 active satellites are foreseen by the end of 2030, implying an annual launch capability of 15 kilotons (Chris Daehnick, 2023).<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> The paper quotes Space News saying that Space Launch Delta 45 received 329 requests for launch dates on the Eastern Range, of which it approved 238, leading to 58 launches and 11 scrubs for weather or technical issues, and presents this as showing the need to seek non-traditional launch sites.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> The inherent advantages it lists for an equatorial spaceport are maximizing launch efficiency, increasing payload capacity, stable weather conditions for launches, and enabling access to various orbital inclinations.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> The paper presents a practical approach for establishing an equatorial spaceport off the Kenyan coast.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref>

== Status and timeline ==

== Who is involved ==
* [https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesmwangi/ Charles Mwangi - Kenya Space Agency]
* [https://www.linkedin.com/in/meshack-ndiritu/ Meshack Ndiritu]
* [https://www.linkedin.com/in/selinahayes/ Selina Hayes]
* [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-gugelev/ Kurt Gugelev]

== Sources ==
* [[:File:TERMS-OF-REFERENCE-TRANSACTION-ADVISORY-SERVICES-FOR-DEVELOPMENT-OF-A-COMMERCIAL-SPACEPORT-DECEMBER-20.pdf|Terms of Reference for the PPP tender for the Lamu Space Port]], Government of Kenya (The National Treasury, State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management), issued 16 December 2025.
* [[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|Unlocking New Horizons: The Role of Kenya's Broglio Space Center in the Commercial Space Era]], Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro, AIAA Region 2 Conference manuscript, 5 March 2024.
* [[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|Case Study for Public Private Partnership to Establish an Equatorial Spaceport]], Meshack Ndiritu and Selina Hayes, 75th International Astronautical Congress, 2024.

== References ==
<references />

Lamu Oil Refinery

2026-10-16T01:45:52Z

Jay: Superficial edit so the approved revision is translated again and its hero photo reaches the front door

{{Hero
| image = Lamu Oil Refinery groundbreaking.jpg
| alt = President William Ruto and Aliko Dangote in hard hats and Dangote vests unveiling the refinery's groundbreaking plaque at Mokowe, Lamu County
| position = top
}}
{{Infobox project
| name = Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery (Lamu Oil Refinery)
| status = under construction
| theme = Industry
| counties = Lamu
| lead_organisation = Dangote Industries
| partners = Government of Kenya (National Infrastructure Fund), Engineers India Limited, Honeywell
| budget = 2,200,000,000,000
| funding_source = Dangote Group equity, bonds and a planned IPO; about 70 per cent debt; Kenyan state equity of about 10 per cent
| start_year = 2026
| end_year = 2030
| website =
}}

The '''Lamu Oil Refinery''', formally the '''Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery''', is a project within the [[Industry]] theme. It is a privately led oil refinery and petrochemical complex proposed by Aliko Dangote's Dangote Industries for Lamu County, beside the Port of Lamu and inside the LAPSSET corridor's special economic zone. Ground was broken on 30 September 2026. Cost figures in the sources differ widely, from about US$15 billion to US$20 billion (roughly KES 1.9 trillion to 2.6 trillion); the figure most often quoted is KES 2.2 trillion, which this page uses in the infobox.

== What it is ==
The refinery is designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil a day, which would make it slightly larger than Dangote's 650,000 barrel a day refinery at Lekki in Nigeria.<ref name="mygov-oct">[[:File:MyGov 6 October 2026 - Dangote Lamu oil refinery by the numbers.pdf|MyGov, Issue 14/2026-2027]], Government Advertising Agency, 6 October 2026, pages 1 and 2.</ref><ref name="mygov-aug">[[:File:MyGov 4 August 2026 - Lamu oil refinery.pdf|MyGov, Issue 5/2026-2027]], Government Advertising Agency, 4 August 2026, page 2.</ref> When Dangote first raised the idea in April and May 2026 he spoke of a 650,000 barrel copy of the Lagos plant; the 700,000 barrel figure has been used consistently since Lamu was chosen in July.<ref name="citizen-tz">[https://thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/samia-dangote-hold-talks-in-dar-es-salaam-amid-refinery-debate-5461622 Samia, Dangote hold talks in Dar es Salaam amid refinery debate], The Citizen (Tanzania), 16 May 2026.</ref><ref name="aa">[https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/kenyan-president-says-east-africa-s-biggest-refinery-to-move-ahead-in-lamu/3994152 Kenyan president says East Africa's biggest refinery to move ahead in Lamu], Andrew Wasike, Anadolu Agency, 10 July 2026.</ref> The project company is reported as Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals SEZ, a subsidiary of the Dangote Group, and the site as Mokowe on the Lamu mainland.<ref name="ogj">[https://www.ogj.com/refining-processing/news/55410915/dangote-taps-eil-for-kenya-grassroots-refinery-project Dangote taps EIL for Kenya grassroots refinery project], Robert Brelsford, Oil & Gas Journal, 9 October 2026.</ref> Other reports place it at Hindi and Manda Magogoni, also on the mainland, and earlier coverage spoke of a site on Lamu Island, so the exact footprint is not yet settled in public sources.<ref name="pd-court">[https://peopledaily.digital/news/court-temporarily-halts-dangote-refinery-construction-in-lamu-on-occupied-portions-of-suit-land Court temporarily halts Dangote refinery construction in Lamu on occupied portions of suit land], Zipporah Ngwatu, People Daily, 29 September 2026.</ref><ref name="capfm-jul8">[https://capitalfm.africa/dangote-picks-lamu-for-sh2-2tn-oil-refinery-project/ Dangote picks Lamu for Sh2.2tn oil refinery project], Kevin Rotich, Capital FM, 8 July 2026.</ref> Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome said the refinery would sit on about 7,000 acres of government land, with a further state parcel of more than 2,000 acres, while President William Ruto spoke of about 10,000 acres secured and another 3,000 acres sought for a special economic zone.<ref name="capfm-wahome">[https://capitalfm.africa/cs-wahome-dangote-lamu-refinery-to-be-built-on-govt-owned-land/ CS Wahome: Dangote Lamu refinery to be built on govt-owned land], Capital FM, 5 October 2026.</ref>

The plant is planned to produce petrol, diesel and jet fuel, together with about one million tonnes a year of polypropylene.<ref name="ogj" /> The government describes it as an integrated industrial complex with a 1,000 megawatt power plant, half of whose output would go to Kenya's national grid, and plastics, fertiliser and chemical units.<ref name="mygov-oct" /> Reports disagree on how that power plant would be fuelled, some describing petroleum coke from the refinery and others liquefied natural gas from Tanzania.<ref name="citizen-inside">[https://citizen.digital/article/inside-the-ksh2t-dangote-oil-refinery-in-lamu-n391091 Inside the Ksh.2 trillion Dangote Oil refinery in Lamu], Moses Kinyanjui, Citizen Digital, 29 September 2026.</ref><ref name="kenyans-pipeline">[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/127058-dangote-kenya-talks-build-lamu-turkana-crude-oil-pipeline Dangote, Kenya in Talks to Build Lamu-Turkana Crude Oil Pipeline], Frankline Oduor, Kenyans.co.ke, 15 September 2026.</ref> President Ruto named Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo as the intended markets.<ref name="aa" />

The refinery ties into the wider LAPSSET programme. The government's MyGov review notes that LAPSSET's flagship components include a crude oil pipeline from South Sudan through the Lokichar oil fields to Lamu and a refined products pipeline from Lamu to Ethiopia, and that Phase Two of Lamu Port will add a liquid bulk terminal.<ref name="mygov-aug" /> The original LAPSSET plan placed a 120,000 barrel a day refinery at Isiolo rather than at the coast.<ref name="hp">[https://hydrocarbonprocessing.com/news/2026/09/dangotes-proposed-kenyan-oil-refinery-faces-hurdles-not-least-with-crude-supply/ Dangote's proposed Kenyan oil refinery faces hurdles, not least with crude supply], Hydrocarbon Processing (Reuters), 9 September 2026.</ref>

Where the crude will come from is still open. Dangote and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi have said the refinery will take crude from Turkana's South Lokichar field, the Middle East and United States WTI, with Dangote arguing that a refinery is not built for a single source of crude.<ref name="bd-mbadi">[https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/markets/capital-markets/kenya-willing-to-grow-stake-in-the-dangote-refinery-5614030 Mbadi: Kenya willing to grow stake in the Dangote refinery], Kabui Mwangi, Business Daily, 29 September 2026.</ref> At the groundbreaking Dangote pointed to Singapore as a refining centre that produces no oil of its own.<ref name="mygov-oct" /> President Ruto has said the government is in talks with Dangote about a crude pipeline from Turkana to Lamu.<ref name="kenyans-pipeline" />

== Government rationale ==
President Ruto calls the refinery a government-enabled, private sector-driven project and an investment in energy security, industrialisation and regional integration.<ref name="speech">[https://thekenyatimes.com/latest-kenya-times-news/ruto-lamu-address-at-the-dangote-refinery-groundbreaking/ Full Speech: Ruto's Lamu Address at the Dangote Refinery Groundbreaking], Ken Aseka, The Kenya Times, 30 September 2026.</ref> He has promised about 60,000 jobs, and at the groundbreaking he projected that the refinery could raise Kenya's gross domestic product by between 12 and 15 per cent.<ref name="capfm-jobs">[https://capitalfm.africa/lamus-oil-refinery-to-create-60000-jobs-president-ruto-promises/ Lamu's oil refinery to create 60,000 jobs, President Ruto promises], Phidel Kizito, Capital FM, 10 July 2026.</ref><ref name="mygov-oct" /> He told the ceremony that Kenya spent KES 530 billion on imported petroleum products in the previous year, while cautioning that a refinery would not make that bill disappear overnight and that fuel must still be produced and delivered at a competitive price.<ref name="speech" /> Petroleum products are Kenya's largest import, worth about US$4 billion a year according to official data cited by Reuters.<ref name="hp" />

In the Senate on 5 August 2026, senators debating a report on fuel supply welcomed the refinery as a source of fuel reserves and supply security, pointing to disruption from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.<ref>[[:File:Senate Hansard 5 August 2026.pdf|Senate Hansard, 5 August 2026]], Parliament of Kenya, pages 22, 25 and 28 of the printed report.</ref>

== Status and timeline ==
Kenya has had no working refinery since the Kenya Petroleum Refineries plant in Mombasa stopped processing crude in 2013.<ref name="hp" /> Dangote first raised an East African refinery on 23 April 2026 at the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, where he offered to build a copy of his Nigerian plant if governments supported it. At that stage the site under discussion was Tanga in Tanzania, with a pipeline to Mombasa.<ref>[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/122837-dangote-plans-nigeria-style-oil-refinery-east-africa-raising-hopes-cheaper-fuel Dangote Plans Nigeria-Style Oil Refinery in East Africa, Raising Hopes for Cheaper Fuel], Maxwell Amunga, Kenyans.co.ke, 23 April 2026.</ref> President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania said publicly in early May that she had not been consulted on a joint refinery at Tanga.<ref>[https://allafrica.com/stories/202605070605.html 'Why Announce What I Don't Know?' Suluhu and Ruto Talk Opposites On Joint Refinery Plan], Samuel Muhimba, Nile Post via AllAfrica, 5 May 2026.</ref> On 11 May President Ruto said Kenya would co-invest through the National Infrastructure Fund and that Dangote would choose between Tanga, Mombasa and Lamu after feasibility studies.<ref name="kenyans-may">[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/123317-kenya-invest-public-funds-dangote-linked-ksh-258-trillion-east-africa-oil-refinery Kenya to Invest Public Funds in Dangote-Linked Ksh 2.58 Trillion East Africa Oil Refinery], Joseph Ogungo, Kenyans.co.ke, 12 May 2026.</ref>

By early July Dangote had settled on Lamu. On 8 July President Ruto named Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to chair the government committee for the project.<ref>[https://the-star.co.ke/news/2026-07-08-kindiki-to-lead-sh2tn-dangote-refinery-project Ruto appoints Kindiki to lead Sh2.2 trillion Dangote refinery project in Lamu], Christabel Adhiambo, The Star, 8 July 2026.</ref> In August Dangote offered East African governments up to 30 per cent of the equity, and Treasury later said Kenya's allocation was 10 per cent, payable over four years, with room to take more if others declined.<ref name="bd-mbadi" /> Ruto met Dangote and the Africa Finance Corporation's chief executive in New York in September to discuss financing.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/ruto-meets-dangote-in-new-york-over-financing-final-preparations-for-sh2-2tn-lamu-refinery/ Ruto Meets Dangote in New York Over Financing, Final Preparations for Sh2.2tn Lamu Refinery], Capital FM, 21 September 2026.</ref> A first shipment of 2,930 tonnes of equipment docked at Lamu on 26 September.<ref>[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/127378-dangote-refinery-2930-tonnes-machinery-arrive-lamu Dangote Refinery: 2,930 Tonnes of Machinery Arrive in Lamu], Frankline Oduor, Kenyans.co.ke, 26 September 2026.</ref>

Ground was broken on 30 September 2026 in the presence of President Ruto, Dangote, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, among other leaders.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/president-ruto-dangote-break-ground-on-sh2-2tn-lamu-oil-refinery/ President Ruto, Dangote break ground on Sh2.2tn Lamu Oil Refinery], Capital FM, 30 September 2026.</ref> Construction is projected to take 30 to 40 months, with operations targeted for 2030.<ref name="mygov-oct" /> In October Dangote appointed Engineers India Limited as project management and engineering consultant, in a contract reported at more than US$450 million, and awarded Honeywell a process technology contract of about US$300 million.<ref name="ogj" />

On 14 October 2026 the Environment and Land Court at Malindi declined to extend an order that had frozen construction on part of the disputed land, finding that the residents who brought the case had not served the respondents and had cited the wrong parcel. They were given seven days to amend their case, with a further mention on 24 November 2026.<ref name="kenyans-court">[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/127842-malindi-court-lifts-order-blocking-construction-ksh-22t-dangote-lamu-oil-refinery Malindi Court Lifts Order Blocking Construction of Ksh 2.2T Dangote Lamu Oil Refinery], Samuel Mwanawanjuguna, Kenyans.co.ke, 14 October 2026.</ref>

=== How the project is being procured ===
Unlike the [[Lamu Spaceport]], whose transaction advisory Terms of Reference were tendered by the National Treasury's PPP Directorate in December 2025, the refinery has not been run as a solicited public private partnership. No Terms of Reference, request for proposals or transaction advisory tender for it has been published by the PPP Directorate, and it does not appear in the Directorate's June 2026 project status report.<ref>[https://pppkenya.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/KENYA-PPP-PROJECTS-PROGRESS-STATUS-REPORT-30TH-JUNE-2026-2.pdf Kenya PPP Projects Progress Status Report, 30th June 2026], PPP Directorate, The National Treasury, published August 2026.</ref> It is instead a Dangote-led private investment in which the state takes an equity stake through the National Infrastructure Fund.<ref name="allafrica-nif">[https://allafrica.com/stories/202609300435.html Kenya: Govt to Deploy Assets, Infrastructure Fund for Sh2.2tn Lamu Refinery Investment - Ruto], Capital FM via AllAfrica, 30 September 2026.</ref> A seed allocation of KES 21.5 billion through the National Infrastructure Fund was reported in July 2026.<ref name="independent">[https://www.independent.co.ug/dangotes-proposed-kenya-refinery-tests-a-new-blueprint-for-african-industrialisation/ Dangote's proposed Kenya refinery tests a new blueprint for African industrialisation], Andrino Akuda and Bonface Orucho (Bird Story Agency), The Independent (Uganda), 24 July 2026.</ref> As of October 2026 no feasibility study, environmental and social impact assessment, NEMA licence or shareholder agreement had been made public, which is the basis of several of the challenges described below.

== Who is involved ==
Aliko Dangote and Dangote Industries lead the project, which Dangote plans to finance with about 30 per cent equity and 70 per cent debt, drawing on internal cash, corporate bonds and a stock market listing.<ref>[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/125997-dangote-backed-lamu-oil-refinery-set-begin-construction-october Dangote-Backed Lamu Oil Refinery Set to Begin Construction in October 2026], Timothy Cerullo, Kenyans.co.ke, 8 August 2026.</ref><ref name="capfm-jul8" /> On the Kenyan side, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki chairs the implementation committee, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi handles the state's stake, Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome the land, and the Kenya Ports Authority the port.<ref name="bd-mbadi" /><ref name="capfm-wahome" /> The Africa Finance Corporation is reported as a backer, though no loan has been disclosed.<ref name="bd-mbadi" /> Engineers India Limited and Honeywell are the first named contractors.<ref name="ogj" />

Regional governments have been offered shares. Ethiopia and Rwanda have shown interest.<ref name="bd-mbadi" /> Uganda's President Museveni attended the groundbreaking and supports the project, but said Uganda would not invest for now and remains committed to its own 60,000 barrel a day refinery at Hoima.<ref name="museveni">[https://allafrica.com/stories/202610010186.html Uganda Yet to Commit to Dangote's Lamu Refinery - Museveni], The Independent (Kampala) via AllAfrica, 1 October 2026.</ref>

* [https://www.dangote.com/ Dangote Group]
* [https://www.lapsset.go.ke/ LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority]
* [https://www.kpa.co.ke/ Kenya Ports Authority]
* [https://pppkenya.go.ke/ PPP Directorate, The National Treasury]

== Concerns and counterpoints ==
The project has drawn criticism on environmental, economic and governance grounds. The positions are set out here by who holds them.

=== Environment and the Lamu archipelago ===
Greenpeace Africa argues that the refinery threatens the mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass that support Lamu's fisheries and protect the coast, through habitat loss, spills and air pollution. It says construction jobs would be temporary and would come at the cost of fishing and tourism, warns that the plant could become a stranded asset that locks Kenya into fossil fuels, and calls for all approvals to be frozen until an independent environmental and social impact assessment is published with public participation.<ref>[https://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/press/61255/greenpeace-africa-statement-on-the-proposed-dangote-oil-refinery-in-lamu/ Greenpeace Africa statement on the proposed Dangote oil refinery in Lamu], Greenpeace Africa, 14 July 2026.</ref> Mohamed Adow of Power Shift Africa called the decision environmentally reckless and economically short-sighted, on the grounds that it assumes decades of fuel demand that the world is trying to phase out.<ref>[https://www.climatechangenews.com/2026/07/15/campaigners-oppose-dangotes-planned-kenya-refinery-over-climate-and-ecological-risks/ Campaigners oppose Dangote's planned Kenya refinery over climate and ecological risks], Vivian Chime, Climate Home News, 15 July 2026.</ref>

Local voices raise similar points. The chair of the Lamu Beach Management Unit says fishers learned of the project only from the media and fear smaller catches and displacement, and Omar Elmawi of the Africa Movement of Movements Building Space warns of harm to fish breeding grounds and mangrove honey production, citing the Lamu coal plant as a precedent.<ref>[https://news.mongabay.com/2026/08/environmental-activists-in-kenya-concerned-over-billionaires-planned-oil-refinery/ Environmental activists in Kenya concerned over billionaire's planned oil refinery], Amina Chombo, Mongabay, 5 August 2026.</ref> That precedent matters in Lamu: the licence for Amu Power's 1,050 megawatt coal plant was cancelled by the National Environment Tribunal in 2019 for an inadequate impact assessment and public participation, and the Malindi Environment and Land Court upheld the cancellation in 2025.<ref>[https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/11/kenya-court-upholds-cancellation-of-1050-mw-coal-plant-license/ Kenya court upholds cancellation of 1,050 MW coal plant license], Mongabay, November 2025.</ref> Residents interviewed by AFP, including Khelef Khalifa of Muslims for Human Rights, said consultation should have come before commitments and excavation, and a tourism operator said visitors come for Lamu's culture, not oil tankers. Dangote, for his part, described critics as people who do not want Africa to develop.<ref>[https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/02/residents-of-kenyas-lamu-island-fear-damage-from-mega-refinery/ Residents of Kenya's Lamu island fear damage from mega-refinery], Africanews (AFP), 2 October 2026.</ref> Lamu Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a point the government's own review notes.<ref name="mygov-aug" />

=== Crude supply and refinery economics ===
Analysts quoted by Reuters point out that Kenya has no commercial crude output yet, that Uganda's crude is committed to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline to Tanga, and that South Sudan exports through Sudan. They note that Lamu has no working oil storage, that LAPSSET's planned storage and tanker berths are largely unbuilt, and that a pipeline from Lokichar or South Sudan to Lamu is a distant prospect, leaving the plant reliant on the seaborne crude market.<ref name="hp" /> Petroleum economist Kaase Gbakon doubts the financing, since the Dangote Group is already seeking about US$40 billion for energy projects between 2025 and 2030. Against this, presidential economic adviser David Ndii estimates that the region could supply more than 600,000 barrels a day.<ref>[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/126924-experts-raise-concerns-over-crude-supply-financing-dangotes-lamu-refinery Experts Raise Concerns Over Crude Supply, Financing for Dangote's Lamu Refinery], Frankline Oduor, Kenyans.co.ke, 9 September 2026.</ref>

Professor Fred Ogola argues that the business case has not been made: in his reckoning domestic output would meet only a small share of the refinery's needs, regional demand of about 416,000 barrels a day falls short of its 700,000 barrel capacity while Uganda and Tanzania pursue their own refineries, and no comparison of sites, financing terms or guarantees has been disclosed.<ref>[https://thekenyatimes.com/latest-kenya-times-news/dangote-business-case/ Dangote's Lamu Refinery: Beyond Political Praise, Where Is The Business Case?], Prof. Fred Ogola, The Kenya Times, 14 October 2026.</ref> President Museveni recounted at the groundbreaking being told that refineries do not make a profit.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/museveni-backs-lamu-refinery-but-holds-off-investment-pending-tanga-clarification/ Museveni backs Lamu refinery but holds off investment pending Tanga clarification], Capital FM, 30 September 2026.</ref> Commentators also point to the Lagos refinery's repeated disputes with Nigeria's state oil company and regulators over crude allocation and import licences.<ref>[https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/05/23/in-fuel-import-licence-dispute-nnpc-accuses-dangote-refinery-of-seeking-monopoly/ In fuel import licence dispute, NNPC accuses Dangote refinery of seeking monopoly], ThisDay, 23 May 2026.</ref>

=== Transparency, public money and land ===
The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has petitioned the PPP Petition Committee to review Kenya's participation, saying it has seen no subscription agreement, valuation, procurement route, feasibility study or record of public participation, and asking how the state's stake of about KES 65 billion and the KES 21.5 billion seed allocation are being spent.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/cofek-seeks-review-of-sh2-2tn-dangote-lamu-refinery-project/ COFEK Seeks Review of Sh2.2tn Dangote Lamu Refinery Project], Phidel Kizito, Capital FM, 2 October 2026.</ref> Activist Francis Awino has a separate petition before the High Court, certified urgent, seeking disclosure of the public money, land, tax incentives and guarantees committed and the legal basis for the National Infrastructure Fund's involvement.<ref>[https://www.billionaires.africa/2026/10/06/africas-richest-man-aliko-dangotes-kenya-refinery-deal-faces-urgent-court-case/ Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote's Kenya refinery deal faces urgent court case], Otobong Tommy, Billionaires.Africa, 6 October 2026.</ref> Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has demanded publication of the agreement and the shareholder register, and asked whether any offtake commitment could stop Kenya importing cheaper fuel.<ref>[https://citizen.digital/article/ndindi-nyoro-demands-full-disclosure-of-dangote-lamu-refinery-shareholders-n391260 Ndindi Nyoro demands full disclosure of Dangote Lamu refinery shareholders], Citizen Digital, October 2026.</ref> Treasury Cabinet Secretary Mbadi has said that President Ruto holds no shares in the project.<ref>[https://citizen.digital/article/cs-mbadi-ruto-has-no-shares-in-ksh2-trillion-dangote-lamu-refinery-n391113 CS Mbadi: Ruto has no shares in Ksh.2 trillion Dangote Lamu refinery], Seth Olale, Citizen Digital, 29 September 2026.</ref>

On land, 133 residents of Hindi, Manda and Magogoni say the site includes their ancestral land and that they face displacement without a resettlement plan. Their case against the government agencies, LAPSSET, Lamu County and Dangote is pending before the Environment and Land Court at Malindi.<ref name="pd-court" /><ref name="kenyans-court" /> President Ruto has told Lamu residents their land concerns will be handled lawfully.<ref>[https://citizen.digital/article/dangote-east-africa-refinery-ruto-assures-lamu-residents-land-concerns-will-be-handled-lawfully-n391187 Dangote East Africa refinery: Ruto assures Lamu residents land concerns will be handled lawfully], Emmanuel Too, Citizen Digital, 30 September 2026.</ref>

== Sources ==
* [[:File:MyGov 6 October 2026 - Dangote Lamu oil refinery by the numbers.pdf|MyGov weekly review, Issue 14/2026-2027: Dangote Lamu oil refinery by the numbers]], Government Advertising Agency (Government of Kenya), 6 October 2026.
* [[:File:MyGov 4 August 2026 - Lamu oil refinery.pdf|MyGov weekly review, Issue 5/2026-2027: Mega projects turn Coast into investment hub]], Government Advertising Agency (Government of Kenya), 4 August 2026.
* [[:File:Senate Hansard 5 August 2026.pdf|Senate Hansard, Official Report, 5 August 2026]], Parliament of Kenya.
* [https://pppkenya.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/KENYA-PPP-PROJECTS-PROGRESS-STATUS-REPORT-30TH-JUNE-2026-2.pdf Kenya PPP Projects Progress Status Report, 30th June 2026], PPP Directorate, The National Treasury. The refinery is not listed.
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamu_Oil_Refinery Lamu Oil Refinery], Wikipedia.
* [https://www.ogj.com/refining-processing/news/55410915/dangote-taps-eil-for-kenya-grassroots-refinery-project Dangote taps EIL for Kenya grassroots refinery project], Oil & Gas Journal, 9 October 2026.
* [https://hydrocarbonprocessing.com/news/2026/09/dangotes-proposed-kenyan-oil-refinery-faces-hurdles-not-least-with-crude-supply/ Dangote's proposed Kenyan oil refinery faces hurdles, not least with crude supply], Hydrocarbon Processing (Reuters), 9 September 2026.
* [https://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/press/61255/greenpeace-africa-statement-on-the-proposed-dangote-oil-refinery-in-lamu/ Greenpeace Africa statement on the proposed Dangote oil refinery in Lamu], Greenpeace Africa, 14 July 2026.

== References ==
<references />

File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027.pdf

2026-10-16T01:27:03Z

Jay: Note that Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform also cites this file

== Summary ==
Mombasa City County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2023-2027, published by the County Government of Mombasa in 2023. Table 49 (printed page 200) lists the MICE convention centre flagship in Nyali Sub-county at KES 10 billion; printed page 209 lists a tea blending and packaging facility. This copy was obtained from the KIPPRA public policy repository.

Contributed as a source for [[Mombasa Convention Centre]].

Also cited by [[Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform]].

== Licensing ==
{{Government work}}

Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa

2026-10-16T01:27:03Z

Jay: Link the Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform project

{{Seeded|source=the Pwani 2050 schema (no source document yet)|date=2026-10-15}}
{{Infobox organisation
| name = Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa
| org_type = civil society organisation
| acronym = EDIC
| founded =
| headquarters =
| counties = Mombasa County, Kilifi County, Kwale County
| themes =
| website =
| contact =
}}

'''Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa''' Convenes the Greater Mombasa stakeholder group covering Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale. Also known as EDIC.

== What this page is for ==
This page is the place for what the Pwani 2050 community knows about Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa: its role in the plan, the facts in the infobox with their sources, and its stated positions on contested questions (use the {{tl|Position}} template). Write from sources you can cite; add a reference for every figure.

== Projects ==
* [[Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform]]
* [[Mombasa Convention Centre]]

== Sources ==
No sources yet. Add citations with the Cite tool in the editor.

Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa

2026-10-16T01:27:02Z

Jay: Link the Mombasa Convention Centre project

{{Seeded|source=the Pwani 2050 schema (no source document yet)|date=2026-10-15}}
{{Infobox organisation
| name = Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa
| org_type = civil society organisation
| acronym = EDIC
| founded =
| headquarters =
| counties = Mombasa County, Kilifi County, Kwale County
| themes =
| website =
| contact =
}}

'''Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa''' Convenes the Greater Mombasa stakeholder group covering Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale. Also known as EDIC.

== What this page is for ==
This page is the place for what the Pwani 2050 community knows about Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa: its role in the plan, the facts in the infobox with their sources, and its stated positions on contested questions (use the {{tl|Position}} template). Write from sources you can cite; add a reference for every figure.

== Projects ==
* [[Mombasa Convention Centre]]

== Sources ==
No sources yet. Add citations with the Cite tool in the editor.

Mombasa County

2026-10-16T01:27:02Z

Jay: Link the Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform project

{{Seeded|source=the Pwani 2050 schema (no source document yet)|date=2026-10-15}}
{{Infobox county
| name = Mombasa County
| county_code = 1
| headquarters = Mombasa
| governor =
| population =
| population_year =
| area_km2 =
| website =
| sub_counties =
}}

'''Mombasa County''' is a county relevant to Pwani 2050.

== What this page is for ==
This page is the place for what the Pwani 2050 community knows about Mombasa County: its role in the plan, the facts in the infobox with their sources, and its stated positions on contested questions (use the {{tl|Position}} template). Write from sources you can cite; add a reference for every figure.

== Projects ==
* [[Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform]]
* [[Mombasa Convention Centre]]

== Sources ==
No sources yet. Add citations with the Cite tool in the editor.

Mombasa County

2026-10-16T01:27:02Z

Jay: Link the Mombasa Convention Centre project

{{Seeded|source=the Pwani 2050 schema (no source document yet)|date=2026-10-15}}
{{Infobox county
| name = Mombasa County
| county_code = 1
| headquarters = Mombasa
| governor =
| population =
| population_year =
| area_km2 =
| website =
| sub_counties =
}}

'''Mombasa County''' is a county relevant to Pwani 2050.

== What this page is for ==
This page is the place for what the Pwani 2050 community knows about Mombasa County: its role in the plan, the facts in the infobox with their sources, and its stated positions on contested questions (use the {{tl|Position}} template). Write from sources you can cite; add a reference for every figure.

== Projects ==
* [[Mombasa Convention Centre]]

== Sources ==
No sources yet. Add citations with the Cite tool in the editor.

Lamu County

2026-10-16T01:27:01Z

Jay: Link the Lamu Spaceport project

{{Seeded|source=the Pwani 2050 schema (no source document yet)|date=2026-10-15}}
{{Infobox county
| name = Lamu County
| county_code = 5
| headquarters = Lamu
| governor =
| population =
| population_year =
| area_km2 =
| website =
| sub_counties =
}}

'''Lamu County''' is a county relevant to Pwani 2050.

== What this page is for ==
This page is the place for what the Pwani 2050 community knows about Lamu County: its role in the plan, the facts in the infobox with their sources, and its stated positions on contested questions (use the {{tl|Position}} template). Write from sources you can cite; add a reference for every figure.

== Projects ==
* [[Lamu Spaceport]]
* [[Lamu Oil Refinery]]

== Sources ==
No sources yet. Add citations with the Cite tool in the editor.

Lamu County

2026-10-16T01:27:01Z

Jay: Link the Lamu Oil Refinery project

{{Seeded|source=the Pwani 2050 schema (no source document yet)|date=2026-10-15}}
{{Infobox county
| name = Lamu County
| county_code = 5
| headquarters = Lamu
| governor =
| population =
| population_year =
| area_km2 =
| website =
| sub_counties =
}}

'''Lamu County''' is a county relevant to Pwani 2050.

== What this page is for ==
This page is the place for what the Pwani 2050 community knows about Lamu County: its role in the plan, the facts in the infobox with their sources, and its stated positions on contested questions (use the {{tl|Position}} template). Write from sources you can cite; add a reference for every figure.

== Projects ==
* [[Lamu Oil Refinery]]

== Sources ==
No sources yet. Add citations with the Cite tool in the editor.

Mombasa Convention Centre

2026-10-16T01:17:36Z

Jay: Use a concept illustration as the hero image

File:Mombasa Convention Centre concept illustration.jpg

2026-10-16T01:17:35Z

Jay: Hero illustration for Mombasa Convention Centre

== Summary ==
An AI-generated concept illustration of a waterfront convention and exhibition centre in Mombasa, with exhibition tents, a truck marshalling area and the harbour behind. Created with Google AI on 19 December 2025 and contributed by Jay. It is an illustration only, not an official or proposed design for the project.

Contributed as the hero illustration for [[Mombasa Convention Centre]].

== Licensing ==
{{CC BY-SA 4.0}}

Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform

2026-10-16T01:06:23Z

Jay: New project page for the Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform, with sources, uploaded government documents and counterpoints

File:Tea withering at Rukuriri Tea Factory.jpg

2026-10-16T01:06:18Z

Jay: Hero photo for Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform

== Summary ==
Workers stirring freshly plucked tea leaves on withering troughs at Rukuriri Tea Factory, north of Embu, Kenya, 14 December 2009. Photo by Rik Schuiling / TropCrop-TCS, from [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2009.12-363-1125ap_tea,processing(withering),stirring_Rukuriri_Tea_Factory,tea-zone_N_of_Embu(C_Highlands),KE_mon14dec2009-1242h.jpg Wikimedia Commons].

Contributed as the hero photo for [[Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform]].

== Licensing ==
{{CC BY-SA 4.0}}
Credit: Rik Schuiling / TropCrop-TCS, via Wikimedia Commons.

File:KIPPRA DP230 - Employment Creation Potential of the Tea Sector in Kenya.pdf

2026-10-16T01:06:13Z

Jay: Source document for Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform

== Summary ==
Assessing the Employment Creation Potential of the Tea Sector in Kenya, KIPPRA Discussion Paper No. 230, Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (a state corporation), December 2020. Printed page 6 discusses import duties on packaging and machinery; printed page 25 describes bulk export and blending abroad.

Contributed as a source for [[Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform]].

== Licensing ==
{{Government work}}

File:Tea Act 2020.pdf

2026-10-16T01:06:07Z

Jay: Source document for Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform

== Summary ==
The Tea Act, 2020 (No. 23 of 2020), Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 236 (Acts No. 23), 24 December 2020, Government Printer, as hosted by the Tea Board of Kenya. Section 2 (printed page 269) defines value addition; section 48 (printed page 289) requires buyers and exporters to value-add at least 40 per cent of exports within eight years and provides for a Common User Facility.

Contributed as a source for [[Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform]].

== Licensing ==
{{Government work}}

File:Tea Board of Kenya - Tea Industry Performance Highlights 2025.pdf

2026-10-16T01:06:06Z

Jay: Source document for Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform

== Summary ==
Kenya Tea Industry Performance Highlights for 2025, Tea Board of Kenya, released 2 April 2026. PDF page 4 gives export volume and earnings; page 7 reports value-added exports of 25.36 million kg (4 per cent of volume); page 8 reports talks on a Common User Facility in a special economic zone; page 10 covers the Specialty and Orthodox auction.

Contributed as a source for [[Tea Value Addition SME Export Enablement Platform]].

== Licensing ==
{{Government work}}

Mombasa Convention Centre

2026-10-16T01:05:37Z

Jay: New project page for the Mombasa Convention Centre, with sources, uploaded government documents and counterpoints

{{Hero
| image = Nyali Beach and Mombasa Beach Hotel.jpg
| alt = A wide white sand beach at low tide with seaweed in the foreground and a multi-storey beach hotel behind a line of palm trees at Nyali, Mombasa
| position = center
}}
{{Infobox project
| name = Mombasa Convention Centre (MICE Convention Precinct)
| status = proposed
| theme = Tourism
| counties = Mombasa
| lead_organisation = Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa
| partners = County Government of Mombasa, Mombasa Investment Corporation, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife
| budget = 10,000,000,000
| funding_source = Build-operate-transfer public private partnership, with county land provided in kind
| start_year = 2023
| end_year = 2027
| website = https://edicpwani.ke/mice-convention-precinct/
}}

The '''Mombasa Convention Centre''' is a project within the [[Tourism]] theme. It is a proposed international convention and exhibition centre for Mombasa, intended to let the coast host large conferences, exhibitions and other business events (the "MICE" market of meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions). The idea has been put forward several times since 2012. It now appears in three overlapping forms: a flagship project in the [[Mombasa County]] Integrated Development Plan for 2023 to 2027, a "Mombasa International Convention Centre" in the national Ministry of Tourism's strategic plan, and a "MICE Convention Precinct" promoted by the [[Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa]] (EDIC). Their costs, sites and sizes differ, and no published document reconciles them. The infobox uses the county plan's budget of KES 10 billion.

== What it is ==
EDIC describes the project as a purpose-built venue for conferences, exhibitions and events, comprising a convention centre, a hotel and a MICE bureau, with capacity for 5,000 delegates and a budget of US$120 million. It proposes a build-operate-transfer public private partnership in which the county government provides prime public land in kind, and projects 2,500 jobs in the first five years.<ref name="edic">[https://edicpwani.ke/mice-convention-precinct/ MICE Convention Precinct: Building the Coast's Flagship Business and Events Destination], Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa, undated, read 15 October 2026.</ref> EDIC's list of priorities places it in Nyali, Mombasa.<ref name="edic-home">[https://edicpwani.ke/#OurPriorities Our Priorities], Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa, undated, read 15 October 2026.</ref>

The county's own plan lists a flagship project called "MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conference & Exhibitions)" in Nyali Sub-county, to provide ultramodern conference facilities and make Mombasa "a conference Tourism destination of choice", over 2023 to 2027 at an estimated KES 10 billion, led by the county department of Tourism, Culture and Trade and the Mombasa Investment Corporation.<ref name="cidp23">[[:File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027]], County Government of Mombasa, 2023, printed page 200 (Table 49, County Flagship Projects).</ref> The same plan lists "Construct the Mombasa Conference Center" among the governor's commitments.<ref>[[:File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027]], printed page 203.</ref> The county's 2026/27 Annual Development Plan restates the flagship with the indicator "Investor secured for establishment of MICE" and names the Mombasa Investment Corporation as lead, with the Trade and Lands departments.<ref name="adp">[[:File:Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026/2027]], County Government of Mombasa, printed page 263.</ref>

At national level, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife's strategic plan for 2023 to 2027 includes "Construction of Mombasa International Convention Centre" alongside proposed centres in the Great Rift, Isiolo and Eldoret, under a wider aim to develop convention centres across the country.<ref name="motw">[[:File:Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Strategic Plan 2023-2027.pdf|Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Strategic Plan 2023-2027]], Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, 2024, PDF pages 54 and 55.</ref> A national investment listing describes a Mombasa convention centre for up to 5,000 delegates at US$80 million, sited near the port and major hotels, for which the county government is seeking strategic investors.<ref name="investkenya">[https://www.investkenya.go.ke/mombasa-convention-centre/ Mombasa Convention Centre], Invest Kenya, undated, read 15 October 2026.</ref>

Estimates of cost therefore range from US$80 million to US$120 million, against KES 10 billion in the county plan. A county urban regeneration plan forwarded to the national government in about 2019 put a Mombasa International Convention Centre at US$58 million to US$97 million.<ref>[https://constructionreviewonline.com/news/kenya/mombasa-county-in-kenya-forwards-multi-million-upgrade-plan-to-state Mombasa County in Kenya forwards multi-million upgrade plan to state], Construction Review, about 2019.</ref>

== Rationale ==
EDIC argues that the coast has no international-standard MICE facility, that existing venues cap at about 2,500 delegates, and that Mombasa hosts only 5 of Kenya's 29 major association meetings a year. It points to Kenya's 2.5 million tourism arrivals in 2025, growth of 14 per cent in coastal international arrivals and of 140 per cent in cruise tourism, and aims at the "bleisure" market of business travellers who extend their stay.<ref name="edic" /> Governor Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir has used the same association-meeting figures, telling the Kenya Coast Tourism Association that Kenya hosted only 29 of more than 11,000 association conferences worldwide, five of them at the coast, and urging the industry to set up convention bureaus and push for open skies.<ref name="nassir">[https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/?p=171941 Mombasa to tap into emerging conference tourism], Kenya News Agency, 26 September 2025.</ref>

Official figures put Kenya's 2025 international arrivals at about 2.7 million, earning about KES 500 billion, with business travel accounting for 19 per cent.<ref>[https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2026-04-03-surge-in-tourist-arrivals-earned-kenya-sh500bn-in-2025 Surge in tourist arrivals earned Kenya Sh500bn in 2025], Emmanuel Wanjala, The Star, 3 April 2026.</ref> The Ministry of Tourism reports that MICE travellers made up 27 per cent of international arrivals in 2024.<ref>[https://www.tourismupdate.com/article/kenya-in-push-to-become-mice-powerhouse Kenya in push to become MICE powerhouse], Harriet Akinyi, Tourism Update, 25 March 2025.</ref>

== Status and timeline ==
The idea is old. In October 2012 the Tourism Minister said the ministry had been allocated 10 acres at Haller Park for a green international convention centre and was seeking development partners.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/kenya-mulls-top-notch-meeting-centre-in-mombasa/ Kenya mulls top notch meeting centre in Mombasa], Charles Gichane, Capital FM, 5 October 2012.</ref> In March 2017 the Tourism Finance Corporation sought investors for a conference centre on a four-acre coastal plot.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/tfc-seeks-investors-for-conference-centre-in-mombasa-to-rival-kicc/ TFC seeks investors for international conference centre in Mombasa], Kennedy Kangethe, Capital FM, 27 March 2017.</ref> In 2018 the Kenya Tourism Federation said the industry was pushing for a Mombasa centre for up to 5,000 people.<ref>[https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/counties/4003142-4576380-lt156h/index.html Rising govt, global conferences boost Kenya coast hotels], Eunice Murathe, Business Daily, 23 May 2018.</ref> The county's 2018 to 2022 plan budgeted KES 300 million for "construction of international conventional Centres" in Nyali, with a target of one fully operational international convention centre under a public private partnership.<ref name="cidp18">[[:File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2022.pdf|Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2022]], County Government of Mombasa, printed pages 87 and 139.</ref> That centre was not built.

The State Department for Tourism reports that a feasibility study for the Mombasa International Convention Centre was carried out during 2018 to 2022.<ref name="sdt">[[:File:State Department for Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2027.pdf|State Department for Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2027]], State Department for Tourism, 2024, PDF page 17.</ref> That study has not been published. The county's 2023 to 2027 plan records that the land for the convention centre still had to be identified and secured, and lists as a risk the "delays in identification of land and an updated feasibility study to support the investment".<ref>[[:File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027]], printed page 241.</ref> In its review of 2024/25, the county reports a target of one convention centre and an achievement of none.<ref>[[:File:Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026/2027]], printed pages 33 and 34.</ref>

EDIC says its pre-feasibility study is complete, that eight hotel operators have been engaged, and that discussions are advancing with three; none is named.<ref name="edic" /> Its council reviewed the investment case for the convention precinct at its second-quarter meeting in 2026.<ref>[https://edicpwani.ke/edic-council-meeting-turning-vision-into-implementation/ EDIC Council Meeting: Turning Vision into Implementation], Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa, 2026.</ref> As of October 2026 no site, operator, financier or signed agreement has been made public.

=== How the project is being procured ===
No Terms of Reference, request for proposals or transaction advisory tender for a Mombasa convention centre has been published by the National Treasury's PPP Directorate, and the project does not appear in the Directorate's June 2026 status report.<ref name="ppp">[https://pppkenya.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/KENYA-PPP-PROJECTS-PROGRESS-STATUS-REPORT-30TH-JUNE-2026-2.pdf Kenya PPP Projects Progress Status Report, 30th June 2026], PPP Directorate, The National Treasury, August 2026.</ref> The county plan frames the route as securing an investor through the Mombasa Investment Corporation,<ref name="adp" /> and EDIC presents a build-operate-transfer partnership with hotel operators already in talks.<ref name="edic" /> The legal pathway, whether a competitive tender or a privately initiated proposal under the Public Private Partnerships Act, has not been stated.

== Who is involved ==
EDIC describes itself as a multi-stakeholder council for Greater Mombasa, covering Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale, co-created with the Swahilipot Hub Foundation and incubated by GDI Africa. Its council is chaired by Dr Kevit Desai and its executive director is John Kashangaki. It says it is not a lender, and that it structures projects and mobilises blended finance.<ref name="edic-home" /> The County Government of Mombasa, through its Tourism, Culture and Trade department and the Mombasa Investment Corporation, leads the county flagship.<ref name="cidp23" /> The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and its State Department for Tourism carry the national version.<ref name="motw" /><ref name="sdt" /> No hotel operator, financier or transaction adviser has been named.

* [https://edicpwani.ke/ Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa]
* [https://www.mombasa.go.ke/ County Government of Mombasa]
* [https://www.tourism.go.ke/ Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife]

== Concerns and counterpoints ==
No critic has yet commented in public on the EDIC proposal itself. The points below come from the official record and from commentary on the coast's conference market and on convention centres more generally.

=== Demand and existing venues ===
EDIC's case rests on the claim that coastal venues cap at about 2,500 delegates.<ref name="edic" /> Since then the privately built Tembo International Convention Centre at the PrideInn Flamingo resort hosted the 11th Our Ocean Conference in June 2026 with more than 6,000 delegates, and PrideInn's managing director Hasnain Noorani described it as the largest convention centre on the coast.<ref>[https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/?p=166932 Mombasa's global ocean conference boosts push for MICE tourism growth], Sadik Hassan, Kenya News Agency, 18 June 2026.</ref> Industry voices quoted by Tourism Update argue that the binding constraints are elsewhere: hospitality consultant Håvar Bauck says many older coastal hotels are worn down and short of management capacity, Victor Shitakha of the Kenya Coast Tourism Association points to ageing resorts and a lack of international luxury brands, and Noorani says the infrastructure is now built and "the only thing left is to go out and tell the world".<ref>[https://www.tourismupdate.com/article/mombasa-bets-big-on-mice Mombasa bets big on MICE], Harriet Akinyi, Tourism Update, 30 June 2026.</ref> Governor Nassir's own remedies for the low conference count were convention bureaus, open skies and direct flights, rather than a new building.<ref name="nassir" />

=== National competition and public cost ===
The national government is already building the Bomas International Convention Complex in Nairobi, whose cost has risen from KES 31.5 billion to more than KES 42 billion; the Auditor-General has flagged direct procurement and the use of the Tourism Fund without adequate oversight, and Jeffers Miruka of the Association for Kenya Business Events says shifting timelines weaken Kenya's credibility as a destination.<ref>[https://www.tourismupdate.com/article/delays-cloud-kenyas-mice-ambitions Delays cloud Kenya's MICE ambitions], Harriet Akinyi, Tourism Update, 15 May 2026.</ref> A second large publicly backed venue on the coast would compete for the same limited pool of international association meetings. Elsewhere in the region, the Kigali Convention Centre's cost rose well beyond its original budget,<ref>[https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/rwanda-could-sever-links-with-convention-centre-contractor--1334164 Rwanda could sever links with convention centre contractor], The EastAfrican, about 2015.</ref> and Arusha's AICC was reported to be losing about TSh 1.8 billion a year after its anchor tenants moved out.<ref>[https://thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/-aicc-loses-sh1-8bn-annually-after-key-tenants-move-out-2647042 AICC loses Sh1.8bn annually after key tenants move out], The Citizen (Tanzania).</ref> In the wider literature, Heywood Sanders' Brookings study argued that convention-centre supply has outrun demand and that consultants' feasibility studies tend to overstate hotel-night gains, a view the convention industry has contested.<ref>[https://www.brookings.edu/articles/space-available-the-realities-of-convention-centers-as-economic-development-strategy/ Space Available: The Realities of Convention Centers as Economic Development Strategy], Heywood Sanders, Brookings Institution, January 2005.</ref>

=== Delivery record, land and transparency ===
The county's own plans show the project carried forward since at least 2018 without a site or a built centre, with the land still unidentified in 2023 and nothing achieved against the 2024/25 target.<ref name="cidp18" /><ref>[[:File:Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026/2027]], printed pages 33 and 34.</ref> EDIC's model relies on prime public land given in kind, but no parcel, valuation or allocation process has been published, and the national feasibility study is not public. Public land on the Mombasa shoreline has a contested history: rights groups including Muslims for Human Rights and Haki Africa have accused the county and NEMA of shielding beach developments that encroached on the shoreline, a charge the county said it would investigate.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/nema-mombasa-county-accused-of-abetting-illegal-construction-on-beach/ NEMA, Mombasa County accused of abetting illegal construction on beach], Capital FM, 17 August 2018.</ref> These concerns are not about this project, but they bear on how any in-kind land allocation for it would be scrutinised.

== Sources ==
* [[:File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027]], County Government of Mombasa, 2023.
* [[:File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2022.pdf|Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2022]], County Government of Mombasa, 2018.
* [[:File:Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026-2027.pdf|Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026/2027]], County Government of Mombasa.
* [[:File:Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Strategic Plan 2023-2027.pdf|Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Strategic Plan 2023-2027]], Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.
* [[:File:State Department for Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2027.pdf|State Department for Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2027]], State Department for Tourism.
* [https://edicpwani.ke/mice-convention-precinct/ MICE Convention Precinct], Economic Development and Investment Council for Greater Mombasa.
* [https://www.investkenya.go.ke/mombasa-convention-centre/ Mombasa Convention Centre], Invest Kenya.
* [https://pppkenya.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/KENYA-PPP-PROJECTS-PROGRESS-STATUS-REPORT-30TH-JUNE-2026-2.pdf Kenya PPP Projects Progress Status Report, 30th June 2026], PPP Directorate. The convention centre is not listed.

== References ==
<references />

File:State Department for Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2027.pdf

2026-10-16T01:05:25Z

Jay: Source document for Mombasa Convention Centre

== Summary ==
State Department for Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (version 4), Government of Kenya, published December 2024. PDF page 17 reports that a feasibility study for the Mombasa International Convention Centre (MICC) was done during 2018 to 2022; PDF page 36 lists its construction.

Contributed as a source for [[Mombasa Convention Centre]].

== Licensing ==
{{Government work}}

File:Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Strategic Plan 2023-2027.pdf

2026-10-16T01:05:18Z

Jay: Source document for Mombasa Convention Centre

== Summary ==
Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (final print), Government of Kenya, published December 2024. PDF pages 54 and 55 (two-page spreads) include the aim to develop convention centres across the country and the line item "Construction of Mombasa International Convention Centre".

Contributed as a source for [[Mombasa Convention Centre]].

== Licensing ==
{{Government work}}

File:Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026-2027.pdf

2026-10-16T01:04:48Z

Jay: Source document for Mombasa Convention Centre

== Summary ==
Mombasa County Annual Development Plan 2026/2027, County Government of Mombasa. Printed pages 33 and 34 report the convention centre target for FY 2024/25 (planned 1, achieved 0); printed page 263 restates the MICE flagship with the indicator "Investor secured for establishment of MICE". This copy was obtained from the KIPPRA public policy repository.

Contributed as a source for [[Mombasa Convention Centre]].

== Licensing ==
{{Government work}}

File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2022.pdf

2026-10-16T01:04:18Z

Jay: Source document for Mombasa Convention Centre

== Summary ==
Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2022, published by the County Government of Mombasa. Printed pages 87 and 139 budget KES 300 million for an international convention centre in Nyali under a public private partnership.

Contributed as a source for [[Mombasa Convention Centre]].

== Licensing ==
{{Government work}}

File:Mombasa County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027.pdf

2026-10-16T01:03:51Z

Jay: Source document for Mombasa Convention Centre

MediaWiki:Common.js

2026-10-16T00:47:50Z

Jay: Machine-seeded from the topic schema; no approved revision

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MediaWiki:Common.css

2026-10-16T00:47:49Z

Jay: Machine-seeded from the topic schema; no approved revision

/* Template:Hero: one wide photo across the top of a project or theme page, cropped to the
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Lamu Oil Refinery

2026-10-16T00:34:09Z

Jay: Crop the hero photo from the top so the plaque heading shows

Lamu Oil Refinery

2026-10-16T00:33:54Z

Jay: Add a hero photo of the 30 September 2026 groundbreaking (Kenya News Agency)

{{Hero
| image = Lamu Oil Refinery groundbreaking.jpg
| alt = President William Ruto and Aliko Dangote in hard hats and Dangote vests unveiling the refinery's groundbreaking plaque at Mokowe, Lamu County
| position = center
}}
{{Infobox project
| name = Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery (Lamu Oil Refinery)
| status = under construction
| theme = Industry
| counties = Lamu
| lead_organisation = Dangote Industries
| partners = Government of Kenya (National Infrastructure Fund), Engineers India Limited, Honeywell
| budget = 2,200,000,000,000
| funding_source = Dangote Group equity, bonds and a planned IPO; about 70 per cent debt; Kenyan state equity of about 10 per cent
| start_year = 2026
| end_year = 2030
| website =
}}

The '''Lamu Oil Refinery''', formally the '''Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery''', is a project within the [[Industry]] theme. It is a privately led oil refinery and petrochemical complex proposed by Aliko Dangote's Dangote Industries for Lamu County, beside the Port of Lamu and inside the LAPSSET corridor's special economic zone. Ground was broken on 30 September 2026. Cost figures in the sources differ widely, from about US$15 billion to US$20 billion (roughly KES 1.9 trillion to 2.6 trillion); the figure most often quoted is KES 2.2 trillion, which this page uses in the infobox.

== What it is ==
The refinery is designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil a day, which would make it slightly larger than Dangote's 650,000 barrel a day refinery at Lekki in Nigeria.<ref name="mygov-oct">[[:File:MyGov 6 October 2026 - Dangote Lamu oil refinery by the numbers.pdf|MyGov, Issue 14/2026-2027]], Government Advertising Agency, 6 October 2026, pages 1 and 2.</ref><ref name="mygov-aug">[[:File:MyGov 4 August 2026 - Lamu oil refinery.pdf|MyGov, Issue 5/2026-2027]], Government Advertising Agency, 4 August 2026, page 2.</ref> When Dangote first raised the idea in April and May 2026 he spoke of a 650,000 barrel copy of the Lagos plant; the 700,000 barrel figure has been used consistently since Lamu was chosen in July.<ref name="citizen-tz">[https://thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/samia-dangote-hold-talks-in-dar-es-salaam-amid-refinery-debate-5461622 Samia, Dangote hold talks in Dar es Salaam amid refinery debate], The Citizen (Tanzania), 16 May 2026.</ref><ref name="aa">[https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/kenyan-president-says-east-africa-s-biggest-refinery-to-move-ahead-in-lamu/3994152 Kenyan president says East Africa's biggest refinery to move ahead in Lamu], Andrew Wasike, Anadolu Agency, 10 July 2026.</ref> The project company is reported as Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals SEZ, a subsidiary of the Dangote Group, and the site as Mokowe on the Lamu mainland.<ref name="ogj">[https://www.ogj.com/refining-processing/news/55410915/dangote-taps-eil-for-kenya-grassroots-refinery-project Dangote taps EIL for Kenya grassroots refinery project], Robert Brelsford, Oil & Gas Journal, 9 October 2026.</ref> Other reports place it at Hindi and Manda Magogoni, also on the mainland, and earlier coverage spoke of a site on Lamu Island, so the exact footprint is not yet settled in public sources.<ref name="pd-court">[https://peopledaily.digital/news/court-temporarily-halts-dangote-refinery-construction-in-lamu-on-occupied-portions-of-suit-land Court temporarily halts Dangote refinery construction in Lamu on occupied portions of suit land], Zipporah Ngwatu, People Daily, 29 September 2026.</ref><ref name="capfm-jul8">[https://capitalfm.africa/dangote-picks-lamu-for-sh2-2tn-oil-refinery-project/ Dangote picks Lamu for Sh2.2tn oil refinery project], Kevin Rotich, Capital FM, 8 July 2026.</ref> Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome said the refinery would sit on about 7,000 acres of government land, with a further state parcel of more than 2,000 acres, while President William Ruto spoke of about 10,000 acres secured and another 3,000 acres sought for a special economic zone.<ref name="capfm-wahome">[https://capitalfm.africa/cs-wahome-dangote-lamu-refinery-to-be-built-on-govt-owned-land/ CS Wahome: Dangote Lamu refinery to be built on govt-owned land], Capital FM, 5 October 2026.</ref>

The plant is planned to produce petrol, diesel and jet fuel, together with about one million tonnes a year of polypropylene.<ref name="ogj" /> The government describes it as an integrated industrial complex with a 1,000 megawatt power plant, half of whose output would go to Kenya's national grid, and plastics, fertiliser and chemical units.<ref name="mygov-oct" /> Reports disagree on how that power plant would be fuelled, some describing petroleum coke from the refinery and others liquefied natural gas from Tanzania.<ref name="citizen-inside">[https://citizen.digital/article/inside-the-ksh2t-dangote-oil-refinery-in-lamu-n391091 Inside the Ksh.2 trillion Dangote Oil refinery in Lamu], Moses Kinyanjui, Citizen Digital, 29 September 2026.</ref><ref name="kenyans-pipeline">[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/127058-dangote-kenya-talks-build-lamu-turkana-crude-oil-pipeline Dangote, Kenya in Talks to Build Lamu-Turkana Crude Oil Pipeline], Frankline Oduor, Kenyans.co.ke, 15 September 2026.</ref> President Ruto named Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo as the intended markets.<ref name="aa" />

The refinery ties into the wider LAPSSET programme. The government's MyGov review notes that LAPSSET's flagship components include a crude oil pipeline from South Sudan through the Lokichar oil fields to Lamu and a refined products pipeline from Lamu to Ethiopia, and that Phase Two of Lamu Port will add a liquid bulk terminal.<ref name="mygov-aug" /> The original LAPSSET plan placed a 120,000 barrel a day refinery at Isiolo rather than at the coast.<ref name="hp">[https://hydrocarbonprocessing.com/news/2026/09/dangotes-proposed-kenyan-oil-refinery-faces-hurdles-not-least-with-crude-supply/ Dangote's proposed Kenyan oil refinery faces hurdles, not least with crude supply], Hydrocarbon Processing (Reuters), 9 September 2026.</ref>

Where the crude will come from is still open. Dangote and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi have said the refinery will take crude from Turkana's South Lokichar field, the Middle East and United States WTI, with Dangote arguing that a refinery is not built for a single source of crude.<ref name="bd-mbadi">[https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/markets/capital-markets/kenya-willing-to-grow-stake-in-the-dangote-refinery-5614030 Mbadi: Kenya willing to grow stake in the Dangote refinery], Kabui Mwangi, Business Daily, 29 September 2026.</ref> At the groundbreaking Dangote pointed to Singapore as a refining centre that produces no oil of its own.<ref name="mygov-oct" /> President Ruto has said the government is in talks with Dangote about a crude pipeline from Turkana to Lamu.<ref name="kenyans-pipeline" />

== Government rationale ==
President Ruto calls the refinery a government-enabled, private sector-driven project and an investment in energy security, industrialisation and regional integration.<ref name="speech">[https://thekenyatimes.com/latest-kenya-times-news/ruto-lamu-address-at-the-dangote-refinery-groundbreaking/ Full Speech: Ruto's Lamu Address at the Dangote Refinery Groundbreaking], Ken Aseka, The Kenya Times, 30 September 2026.</ref> He has promised about 60,000 jobs, and at the groundbreaking he projected that the refinery could raise Kenya's gross domestic product by between 12 and 15 per cent.<ref name="capfm-jobs">[https://capitalfm.africa/lamus-oil-refinery-to-create-60000-jobs-president-ruto-promises/ Lamu's oil refinery to create 60,000 jobs, President Ruto promises], Phidel Kizito, Capital FM, 10 July 2026.</ref><ref name="mygov-oct" /> He told the ceremony that Kenya spent KES 530 billion on imported petroleum products in the previous year, while cautioning that a refinery would not make that bill disappear overnight and that fuel must still be produced and delivered at a competitive price.<ref name="speech" /> Petroleum products are Kenya's largest import, worth about US$4 billion a year according to official data cited by Reuters.<ref name="hp" />

In the Senate on 5 August 2026, senators debating a report on fuel supply welcomed the refinery as a source of fuel reserves and supply security, pointing to disruption from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.<ref>[[:File:Senate Hansard 5 August 2026.pdf|Senate Hansard, 5 August 2026]], Parliament of Kenya, pages 22, 25 and 28 of the printed report.</ref>

== Status and timeline ==
Kenya has had no working refinery since the Kenya Petroleum Refineries plant in Mombasa stopped processing crude in 2013.<ref name="hp" /> Dangote first raised an East African refinery on 23 April 2026 at the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, where he offered to build a copy of his Nigerian plant if governments supported it. At that stage the site under discussion was Tanga in Tanzania, with a pipeline to Mombasa.<ref>[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/122837-dangote-plans-nigeria-style-oil-refinery-east-africa-raising-hopes-cheaper-fuel Dangote Plans Nigeria-Style Oil Refinery in East Africa, Raising Hopes for Cheaper Fuel], Maxwell Amunga, Kenyans.co.ke, 23 April 2026.</ref> President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania said publicly in early May that she had not been consulted on a joint refinery at Tanga.<ref>[https://allafrica.com/stories/202605070605.html 'Why Announce What I Don't Know?' Suluhu and Ruto Talk Opposites On Joint Refinery Plan], Samuel Muhimba, Nile Post via AllAfrica, 5 May 2026.</ref> On 11 May President Ruto said Kenya would co-invest through the National Infrastructure Fund and that Dangote would choose between Tanga, Mombasa and Lamu after feasibility studies.<ref name="kenyans-may">[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/123317-kenya-invest-public-funds-dangote-linked-ksh-258-trillion-east-africa-oil-refinery Kenya to Invest Public Funds in Dangote-Linked Ksh 2.58 Trillion East Africa Oil Refinery], Joseph Ogungo, Kenyans.co.ke, 12 May 2026.</ref>

By early July Dangote had settled on Lamu. On 8 July President Ruto named Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to chair the government committee for the project.<ref>[https://the-star.co.ke/news/2026-07-08-kindiki-to-lead-sh2tn-dangote-refinery-project Ruto appoints Kindiki to lead Sh2.2 trillion Dangote refinery project in Lamu], Christabel Adhiambo, The Star, 8 July 2026.</ref> In August Dangote offered East African governments up to 30 per cent of the equity, and Treasury later said Kenya's allocation was 10 per cent, payable over four years, with room to take more if others declined.<ref name="bd-mbadi" /> Ruto met Dangote and the Africa Finance Corporation's chief executive in New York in September to discuss financing.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/ruto-meets-dangote-in-new-york-over-financing-final-preparations-for-sh2-2tn-lamu-refinery/ Ruto Meets Dangote in New York Over Financing, Final Preparations for Sh2.2tn Lamu Refinery], Capital FM, 21 September 2026.</ref> A first shipment of 2,930 tonnes of equipment docked at Lamu on 26 September.<ref>[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/127378-dangote-refinery-2930-tonnes-machinery-arrive-lamu Dangote Refinery: 2,930 Tonnes of Machinery Arrive in Lamu], Frankline Oduor, Kenyans.co.ke, 26 September 2026.</ref>

Ground was broken on 30 September 2026 in the presence of President Ruto, Dangote, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, among other leaders.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/president-ruto-dangote-break-ground-on-sh2-2tn-lamu-oil-refinery/ President Ruto, Dangote break ground on Sh2.2tn Lamu Oil Refinery], Capital FM, 30 September 2026.</ref> Construction is projected to take 30 to 40 months, with operations targeted for 2030.<ref name="mygov-oct" /> In October Dangote appointed Engineers India Limited as project management and engineering consultant, in a contract reported at more than US$450 million, and awarded Honeywell a process technology contract of about US$300 million.<ref name="ogj" />

On 14 October 2026 the Environment and Land Court at Malindi declined to extend an order that had frozen construction on part of the disputed land, finding that the residents who brought the case had not served the respondents and had cited the wrong parcel. They were given seven days to amend their case, with a further mention on 24 November 2026.<ref name="kenyans-court">[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/127842-malindi-court-lifts-order-blocking-construction-ksh-22t-dangote-lamu-oil-refinery Malindi Court Lifts Order Blocking Construction of Ksh 2.2T Dangote Lamu Oil Refinery], Samuel Mwanawanjuguna, Kenyans.co.ke, 14 October 2026.</ref>

=== How the project is being procured ===
Unlike the [[Lamu Spaceport]], whose transaction advisory Terms of Reference were tendered by the National Treasury's PPP Directorate in December 2025, the refinery has not been run as a solicited public private partnership. No Terms of Reference, request for proposals or transaction advisory tender for it has been published by the PPP Directorate, and it does not appear in the Directorate's June 2026 project status report.<ref>[https://pppkenya.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/KENYA-PPP-PROJECTS-PROGRESS-STATUS-REPORT-30TH-JUNE-2026-2.pdf Kenya PPP Projects Progress Status Report, 30th June 2026], PPP Directorate, The National Treasury, published August 2026.</ref> It is instead a Dangote-led private investment in which the state takes an equity stake through the National Infrastructure Fund.<ref name="allafrica-nif">[https://allafrica.com/stories/202609300435.html Kenya: Govt to Deploy Assets, Infrastructure Fund for Sh2.2tn Lamu Refinery Investment - Ruto], Capital FM via AllAfrica, 30 September 2026.</ref> A seed allocation of KES 21.5 billion through the National Infrastructure Fund was reported in July 2026.<ref name="independent">[https://www.independent.co.ug/dangotes-proposed-kenya-refinery-tests-a-new-blueprint-for-african-industrialisation/ Dangote's proposed Kenya refinery tests a new blueprint for African industrialisation], Andrino Akuda and Bonface Orucho (Bird Story Agency), The Independent (Uganda), 24 July 2026.</ref> As of October 2026 no feasibility study, environmental and social impact assessment, NEMA licence or shareholder agreement had been made public, which is the basis of several of the challenges described below.

== Who is involved ==
Aliko Dangote and Dangote Industries lead the project, which Dangote plans to finance with about 30 per cent equity and 70 per cent debt, drawing on internal cash, corporate bonds and a stock market listing.<ref>[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/125997-dangote-backed-lamu-oil-refinery-set-begin-construction-october Dangote-Backed Lamu Oil Refinery Set to Begin Construction in October 2026], Timothy Cerullo, Kenyans.co.ke, 8 August 2026.</ref><ref name="capfm-jul8" /> On the Kenyan side, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki chairs the implementation committee, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi handles the state's stake, Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome the land, and the Kenya Ports Authority the port.<ref name="bd-mbadi" /><ref name="capfm-wahome" /> The Africa Finance Corporation is reported as a backer, though no loan has been disclosed.<ref name="bd-mbadi" /> Engineers India Limited and Honeywell are the first named contractors.<ref name="ogj" />

Regional governments have been offered shares. Ethiopia and Rwanda have shown interest.<ref name="bd-mbadi" /> Uganda's President Museveni attended the groundbreaking and supports the project, but said Uganda would not invest for now and remains committed to its own 60,000 barrel a day refinery at Hoima.<ref name="museveni">[https://allafrica.com/stories/202610010186.html Uganda Yet to Commit to Dangote's Lamu Refinery - Museveni], The Independent (Kampala) via AllAfrica, 1 October 2026.</ref>

* [https://www.dangote.com/ Dangote Group]
* [https://www.lapsset.go.ke/ LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority]
* [https://www.kpa.co.ke/ Kenya Ports Authority]
* [https://pppkenya.go.ke/ PPP Directorate, The National Treasury]

== Concerns and counterpoints ==
The project has drawn criticism on environmental, economic and governance grounds. The positions are set out here by who holds them.

=== Environment and the Lamu archipelago ===
Greenpeace Africa argues that the refinery threatens the mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass that support Lamu's fisheries and protect the coast, through habitat loss, spills and air pollution. It says construction jobs would be temporary and would come at the cost of fishing and tourism, warns that the plant could become a stranded asset that locks Kenya into fossil fuels, and calls for all approvals to be frozen until an independent environmental and social impact assessment is published with public participation.<ref>[https://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/press/61255/greenpeace-africa-statement-on-the-proposed-dangote-oil-refinery-in-lamu/ Greenpeace Africa statement on the proposed Dangote oil refinery in Lamu], Greenpeace Africa, 14 July 2026.</ref> Mohamed Adow of Power Shift Africa called the decision environmentally reckless and economically short-sighted, on the grounds that it assumes decades of fuel demand that the world is trying to phase out.<ref>[https://www.climatechangenews.com/2026/07/15/campaigners-oppose-dangotes-planned-kenya-refinery-over-climate-and-ecological-risks/ Campaigners oppose Dangote's planned Kenya refinery over climate and ecological risks], Vivian Chime, Climate Home News, 15 July 2026.</ref>

Local voices raise similar points. The chair of the Lamu Beach Management Unit says fishers learned of the project only from the media and fear smaller catches and displacement, and Omar Elmawi of the Africa Movement of Movements Building Space warns of harm to fish breeding grounds and mangrove honey production, citing the Lamu coal plant as a precedent.<ref>[https://news.mongabay.com/2026/08/environmental-activists-in-kenya-concerned-over-billionaires-planned-oil-refinery/ Environmental activists in Kenya concerned over billionaire's planned oil refinery], Amina Chombo, Mongabay, 5 August 2026.</ref> That precedent matters in Lamu: the licence for Amu Power's 1,050 megawatt coal plant was cancelled by the National Environment Tribunal in 2019 for an inadequate impact assessment and public participation, and the Malindi Environment and Land Court upheld the cancellation in 2025.<ref>[https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/11/kenya-court-upholds-cancellation-of-1050-mw-coal-plant-license/ Kenya court upholds cancellation of 1,050 MW coal plant license], Mongabay, November 2025.</ref> Residents interviewed by AFP, including Khelef Khalifa of Muslims for Human Rights, said consultation should have come before commitments and excavation, and a tourism operator said visitors come for Lamu's culture, not oil tankers. Dangote, for his part, described critics as people who do not want Africa to develop.<ref>[https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/02/residents-of-kenyas-lamu-island-fear-damage-from-mega-refinery/ Residents of Kenya's Lamu island fear damage from mega-refinery], Africanews (AFP), 2 October 2026.</ref> Lamu Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a point the government's own review notes.<ref name="mygov-aug" />

=== Crude supply and refinery economics ===
Analysts quoted by Reuters point out that Kenya has no commercial crude output yet, that Uganda's crude is committed to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline to Tanga, and that South Sudan exports through Sudan. They note that Lamu has no working oil storage, that LAPSSET's planned storage and tanker berths are largely unbuilt, and that a pipeline from Lokichar or South Sudan to Lamu is a distant prospect, leaving the plant reliant on the seaborne crude market.<ref name="hp" /> Petroleum economist Kaase Gbakon doubts the financing, since the Dangote Group is already seeking about US$40 billion for energy projects between 2025 and 2030. Against this, presidential economic adviser David Ndii estimates that the region could supply more than 600,000 barrels a day.<ref>[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/126924-experts-raise-concerns-over-crude-supply-financing-dangotes-lamu-refinery Experts Raise Concerns Over Crude Supply, Financing for Dangote's Lamu Refinery], Frankline Oduor, Kenyans.co.ke, 9 September 2026.</ref>

Professor Fred Ogola argues that the business case has not been made: in his reckoning domestic output would meet only a small share of the refinery's needs, regional demand of about 416,000 barrels a day falls short of its 700,000 barrel capacity while Uganda and Tanzania pursue their own refineries, and no comparison of sites, financing terms or guarantees has been disclosed.<ref>[https://thekenyatimes.com/latest-kenya-times-news/dangote-business-case/ Dangote's Lamu Refinery: Beyond Political Praise, Where Is The Business Case?], Prof. Fred Ogola, The Kenya Times, 14 October 2026.</ref> President Museveni recounted at the groundbreaking being told that refineries do not make a profit.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/museveni-backs-lamu-refinery-but-holds-off-investment-pending-tanga-clarification/ Museveni backs Lamu refinery but holds off investment pending Tanga clarification], Capital FM, 30 September 2026.</ref> Commentators also point to the Lagos refinery's repeated disputes with Nigeria's state oil company and regulators over crude allocation and import licences.<ref>[https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/05/23/in-fuel-import-licence-dispute-nnpc-accuses-dangote-refinery-of-seeking-monopoly/ In fuel import licence dispute, NNPC accuses Dangote refinery of seeking monopoly], ThisDay, 23 May 2026.</ref>

=== Transparency, public money and land ===
The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has petitioned the PPP Petition Committee to review Kenya's participation, saying it has seen no subscription agreement, valuation, procurement route, feasibility study or record of public participation, and asking how the state's stake of about KES 65 billion and the KES 21.5 billion seed allocation are being spent.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/cofek-seeks-review-of-sh2-2tn-dangote-lamu-refinery-project/ COFEK Seeks Review of Sh2.2tn Dangote Lamu Refinery Project], Phidel Kizito, Capital FM, 2 October 2026.</ref> Activist Francis Awino has a separate petition before the High Court, certified urgent, seeking disclosure of the public money, land, tax incentives and guarantees committed and the legal basis for the National Infrastructure Fund's involvement.<ref>[https://www.billionaires.africa/2026/10/06/africas-richest-man-aliko-dangotes-kenya-refinery-deal-faces-urgent-court-case/ Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote's Kenya refinery deal faces urgent court case], Otobong Tommy, Billionaires.Africa, 6 October 2026.</ref> Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has demanded publication of the agreement and the shareholder register, and asked whether any offtake commitment could stop Kenya importing cheaper fuel.<ref>[https://citizen.digital/article/ndindi-nyoro-demands-full-disclosure-of-dangote-lamu-refinery-shareholders-n391260 Ndindi Nyoro demands full disclosure of Dangote Lamu refinery shareholders], Citizen Digital, October 2026.</ref> Treasury Cabinet Secretary Mbadi has said that President Ruto holds no shares in the project.<ref>[https://citizen.digital/article/cs-mbadi-ruto-has-no-shares-in-ksh2-trillion-dangote-lamu-refinery-n391113 CS Mbadi: Ruto has no shares in Ksh.2 trillion Dangote Lamu refinery], Seth Olale, Citizen Digital, 29 September 2026.</ref>

On land, 133 residents of Hindi, Manda and Magogoni say the site includes their ancestral land and that they face displacement without a resettlement plan. Their case against the government agencies, LAPSSET, Lamu County and Dangote is pending before the Environment and Land Court at Malindi.<ref name="pd-court" /><ref name="kenyans-court" /> President Ruto has told Lamu residents their land concerns will be handled lawfully.<ref>[https://citizen.digital/article/dangote-east-africa-refinery-ruto-assures-lamu-residents-land-concerns-will-be-handled-lawfully-n391187 Dangote East Africa refinery: Ruto assures Lamu residents land concerns will be handled lawfully], Emmanuel Too, Citizen Digital, 30 September 2026.</ref>

== Sources ==
* [[:File:MyGov 6 October 2026 - Dangote Lamu oil refinery by the numbers.pdf|MyGov weekly review, Issue 14/2026-2027: Dangote Lamu oil refinery by the numbers]], Government Advertising Agency (Government of Kenya), 6 October 2026.
* [[:File:MyGov 4 August 2026 - Lamu oil refinery.pdf|MyGov weekly review, Issue 5/2026-2027: Mega projects turn Coast into investment hub]], Government Advertising Agency (Government of Kenya), 4 August 2026.
* [[:File:Senate Hansard 5 August 2026.pdf|Senate Hansard, Official Report, 5 August 2026]], Parliament of Kenya.
* [https://pppkenya.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/KENYA-PPP-PROJECTS-PROGRESS-STATUS-REPORT-30TH-JUNE-2026-2.pdf Kenya PPP Projects Progress Status Report, 30th June 2026], PPP Directorate, The National Treasury. The refinery is not listed.
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamu_Oil_Refinery Lamu Oil Refinery], Wikipedia.
* [https://www.ogj.com/refining-processing/news/55410915/dangote-taps-eil-for-kenya-grassroots-refinery-project Dangote taps EIL for Kenya grassroots refinery project], Oil & Gas Journal, 9 October 2026.
* [https://hydrocarbonprocessing.com/news/2026/09/dangotes-proposed-kenyan-oil-refinery-faces-hurdles-not-least-with-crude-supply/ Dangote's proposed Kenyan oil refinery faces hurdles, not least with crude supply], Hydrocarbon Processing (Reuters), 9 September 2026.
* [https://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/press/61255/greenpeace-africa-statement-on-the-proposed-dangote-oil-refinery-in-lamu/ Greenpeace Africa statement on the proposed Dangote oil refinery in Lamu], Greenpeace Africa, 14 July 2026.

== References ==
<references />

File:Lamu Oil Refinery groundbreaking.jpg

2026-10-16T00:33:54Z

Jay: Hero photo for Lamu Oil Refinery

== Summary ==
President William Ruto and Aliko Dangote unveil the plaque at the groundbreaking of the Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals SEZ, Mokowe, Lamu County, on 30 September 2026. Photo published by the Kenya News Agency (Government of Kenya) with its story [https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/coast-leaders-support-the-sh2-6-trillion-dangote-lamu-oil-project/ Coast leaders support the Sh2.6 Trillion Dangote Lamu oil project], 4 October 2026.

Contributed as the hero photo for [[Lamu Oil Refinery]].

== Licensing ==
{{Government work}}

Lamu Oil Refinery

2026-10-16T00:26:57Z

Jay: New project page for the Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery at Lamu, with sources, uploaded government documents and counterpoints

{{Infobox project
| name = Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery (Lamu Oil Refinery)
| status = under construction
| theme = Industry
| counties = Lamu
| lead_organisation = Dangote Industries
| partners = Government of Kenya (National Infrastructure Fund), Engineers India Limited, Honeywell
| budget = 2,200,000,000,000
| funding_source = Dangote Group equity, bonds and a planned IPO; about 70 per cent debt; Kenyan state equity of about 10 per cent
| start_year = 2026
| end_year = 2030
| website =
}}

The '''Lamu Oil Refinery''', formally the '''Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery''', is a project within the [[Industry]] theme. It is a privately led oil refinery and petrochemical complex proposed by Aliko Dangote's Dangote Industries for Lamu County, beside the Port of Lamu and inside the LAPSSET corridor's special economic zone. Ground was broken on 30 September 2026. Cost figures in the sources differ widely, from about US$15 billion to US$20 billion (roughly KES 1.9 trillion to 2.6 trillion); the figure most often quoted is KES 2.2 trillion, which this page uses in the infobox.

== What it is ==
The refinery is designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil a day, which would make it slightly larger than Dangote's 650,000 barrel a day refinery at Lekki in Nigeria.<ref name="mygov-oct">[[:File:MyGov 6 October 2026 - Dangote Lamu oil refinery by the numbers.pdf|MyGov, Issue 14/2026-2027]], Government Advertising Agency, 6 October 2026, pages 1 and 2.</ref><ref name="mygov-aug">[[:File:MyGov 4 August 2026 - Lamu oil refinery.pdf|MyGov, Issue 5/2026-2027]], Government Advertising Agency, 4 August 2026, page 2.</ref> When Dangote first raised the idea in April and May 2026 he spoke of a 650,000 barrel copy of the Lagos plant; the 700,000 barrel figure has been used consistently since Lamu was chosen in July.<ref name="citizen-tz">[https://thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/samia-dangote-hold-talks-in-dar-es-salaam-amid-refinery-debate-5461622 Samia, Dangote hold talks in Dar es Salaam amid refinery debate], The Citizen (Tanzania), 16 May 2026.</ref><ref name="aa">[https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/kenyan-president-says-east-africa-s-biggest-refinery-to-move-ahead-in-lamu/3994152 Kenyan president says East Africa's biggest refinery to move ahead in Lamu], Andrew Wasike, Anadolu Agency, 10 July 2026.</ref> The project company is reported as Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals SEZ, a subsidiary of the Dangote Group, and the site as Mokowe on the Lamu mainland.<ref name="ogj">[https://www.ogj.com/refining-processing/news/55410915/dangote-taps-eil-for-kenya-grassroots-refinery-project Dangote taps EIL for Kenya grassroots refinery project], Robert Brelsford, Oil & Gas Journal, 9 October 2026.</ref> Other reports place it at Hindi and Manda Magogoni, also on the mainland, and earlier coverage spoke of a site on Lamu Island, so the exact footprint is not yet settled in public sources.<ref name="pd-court">[https://peopledaily.digital/news/court-temporarily-halts-dangote-refinery-construction-in-lamu-on-occupied-portions-of-suit-land Court temporarily halts Dangote refinery construction in Lamu on occupied portions of suit land], Zipporah Ngwatu, People Daily, 29 September 2026.</ref><ref name="capfm-jul8">[https://capitalfm.africa/dangote-picks-lamu-for-sh2-2tn-oil-refinery-project/ Dangote picks Lamu for Sh2.2tn oil refinery project], Kevin Rotich, Capital FM, 8 July 2026.</ref> Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome said the refinery would sit on about 7,000 acres of government land, with a further state parcel of more than 2,000 acres, while President William Ruto spoke of about 10,000 acres secured and another 3,000 acres sought for a special economic zone.<ref name="capfm-wahome">[https://capitalfm.africa/cs-wahome-dangote-lamu-refinery-to-be-built-on-govt-owned-land/ CS Wahome: Dangote Lamu refinery to be built on govt-owned land], Capital FM, 5 October 2026.</ref>

The plant is planned to produce petrol, diesel and jet fuel, together with about one million tonnes a year of polypropylene.<ref name="ogj" /> The government describes it as an integrated industrial complex with a 1,000 megawatt power plant, half of whose output would go to Kenya's national grid, and plastics, fertiliser and chemical units.<ref name="mygov-oct" /> Reports disagree on how that power plant would be fuelled, some describing petroleum coke from the refinery and others liquefied natural gas from Tanzania.<ref name="citizen-inside">[https://citizen.digital/article/inside-the-ksh2t-dangote-oil-refinery-in-lamu-n391091 Inside the Ksh.2 trillion Dangote Oil refinery in Lamu], Moses Kinyanjui, Citizen Digital, 29 September 2026.</ref><ref name="kenyans-pipeline">[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/127058-dangote-kenya-talks-build-lamu-turkana-crude-oil-pipeline Dangote, Kenya in Talks to Build Lamu-Turkana Crude Oil Pipeline], Frankline Oduor, Kenyans.co.ke, 15 September 2026.</ref> President Ruto named Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo as the intended markets.<ref name="aa" />

The refinery ties into the wider LAPSSET programme. The government's MyGov review notes that LAPSSET's flagship components include a crude oil pipeline from South Sudan through the Lokichar oil fields to Lamu and a refined products pipeline from Lamu to Ethiopia, and that Phase Two of Lamu Port will add a liquid bulk terminal.<ref name="mygov-aug" /> The original LAPSSET plan placed a 120,000 barrel a day refinery at Isiolo rather than at the coast.<ref name="hp">[https://hydrocarbonprocessing.com/news/2026/09/dangotes-proposed-kenyan-oil-refinery-faces-hurdles-not-least-with-crude-supply/ Dangote's proposed Kenyan oil refinery faces hurdles, not least with crude supply], Hydrocarbon Processing (Reuters), 9 September 2026.</ref>

Where the crude will come from is still open. Dangote and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi have said the refinery will take crude from Turkana's South Lokichar field, the Middle East and United States WTI, with Dangote arguing that a refinery is not built for a single source of crude.<ref name="bd-mbadi">[https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/markets/capital-markets/kenya-willing-to-grow-stake-in-the-dangote-refinery-5614030 Mbadi: Kenya willing to grow stake in the Dangote refinery], Kabui Mwangi, Business Daily, 29 September 2026.</ref> At the groundbreaking Dangote pointed to Singapore as a refining centre that produces no oil of its own.<ref name="mygov-oct" /> President Ruto has said the government is in talks with Dangote about a crude pipeline from Turkana to Lamu.<ref name="kenyans-pipeline" />

== Government rationale ==
President Ruto calls the refinery a government-enabled, private sector-driven project and an investment in energy security, industrialisation and regional integration.<ref name="speech">[https://thekenyatimes.com/latest-kenya-times-news/ruto-lamu-address-at-the-dangote-refinery-groundbreaking/ Full Speech: Ruto's Lamu Address at the Dangote Refinery Groundbreaking], Ken Aseka, The Kenya Times, 30 September 2026.</ref> He has promised about 60,000 jobs, and at the groundbreaking he projected that the refinery could raise Kenya's gross domestic product by between 12 and 15 per cent.<ref name="capfm-jobs">[https://capitalfm.africa/lamus-oil-refinery-to-create-60000-jobs-president-ruto-promises/ Lamu's oil refinery to create 60,000 jobs, President Ruto promises], Phidel Kizito, Capital FM, 10 July 2026.</ref><ref name="mygov-oct" /> He told the ceremony that Kenya spent KES 530 billion on imported petroleum products in the previous year, while cautioning that a refinery would not make that bill disappear overnight and that fuel must still be produced and delivered at a competitive price.<ref name="speech" /> Petroleum products are Kenya's largest import, worth about US$4 billion a year according to official data cited by Reuters.<ref name="hp" />

In the Senate on 5 August 2026, senators debating a report on fuel supply welcomed the refinery as a source of fuel reserves and supply security, pointing to disruption from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.<ref>[[:File:Senate Hansard 5 August 2026.pdf|Senate Hansard, 5 August 2026]], Parliament of Kenya, pages 22, 25 and 28 of the printed report.</ref>

== Status and timeline ==
Kenya has had no working refinery since the Kenya Petroleum Refineries plant in Mombasa stopped processing crude in 2013.<ref name="hp" /> Dangote first raised an East African refinery on 23 April 2026 at the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, where he offered to build a copy of his Nigerian plant if governments supported it. At that stage the site under discussion was Tanga in Tanzania, with a pipeline to Mombasa.<ref>[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/122837-dangote-plans-nigeria-style-oil-refinery-east-africa-raising-hopes-cheaper-fuel Dangote Plans Nigeria-Style Oil Refinery in East Africa, Raising Hopes for Cheaper Fuel], Maxwell Amunga, Kenyans.co.ke, 23 April 2026.</ref> President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania said publicly in early May that she had not been consulted on a joint refinery at Tanga.<ref>[https://allafrica.com/stories/202605070605.html 'Why Announce What I Don't Know?' Suluhu and Ruto Talk Opposites On Joint Refinery Plan], Samuel Muhimba, Nile Post via AllAfrica, 5 May 2026.</ref> On 11 May President Ruto said Kenya would co-invest through the National Infrastructure Fund and that Dangote would choose between Tanga, Mombasa and Lamu after feasibility studies.<ref name="kenyans-may">[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/123317-kenya-invest-public-funds-dangote-linked-ksh-258-trillion-east-africa-oil-refinery Kenya to Invest Public Funds in Dangote-Linked Ksh 2.58 Trillion East Africa Oil Refinery], Joseph Ogungo, Kenyans.co.ke, 12 May 2026.</ref>

By early July Dangote had settled on Lamu. On 8 July President Ruto named Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to chair the government committee for the project.<ref>[https://the-star.co.ke/news/2026-07-08-kindiki-to-lead-sh2tn-dangote-refinery-project Ruto appoints Kindiki to lead Sh2.2 trillion Dangote refinery project in Lamu], Christabel Adhiambo, The Star, 8 July 2026.</ref> In August Dangote offered East African governments up to 30 per cent of the equity, and Treasury later said Kenya's allocation was 10 per cent, payable over four years, with room to take more if others declined.<ref name="bd-mbadi" /> Ruto met Dangote and the Africa Finance Corporation's chief executive in New York in September to discuss financing.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/ruto-meets-dangote-in-new-york-over-financing-final-preparations-for-sh2-2tn-lamu-refinery/ Ruto Meets Dangote in New York Over Financing, Final Preparations for Sh2.2tn Lamu Refinery], Capital FM, 21 September 2026.</ref> A first shipment of 2,930 tonnes of equipment docked at Lamu on 26 September.<ref>[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/127378-dangote-refinery-2930-tonnes-machinery-arrive-lamu Dangote Refinery: 2,930 Tonnes of Machinery Arrive in Lamu], Frankline Oduor, Kenyans.co.ke, 26 September 2026.</ref>

Ground was broken on 30 September 2026 in the presence of President Ruto, Dangote, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, among other leaders.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/president-ruto-dangote-break-ground-on-sh2-2tn-lamu-oil-refinery/ President Ruto, Dangote break ground on Sh2.2tn Lamu Oil Refinery], Capital FM, 30 September 2026.</ref> Construction is projected to take 30 to 40 months, with operations targeted for 2030.<ref name="mygov-oct" /> In October Dangote appointed Engineers India Limited as project management and engineering consultant, in a contract reported at more than US$450 million, and awarded Honeywell a process technology contract of about US$300 million.<ref name="ogj" />

On 14 October 2026 the Environment and Land Court at Malindi declined to extend an order that had frozen construction on part of the disputed land, finding that the residents who brought the case had not served the respondents and had cited the wrong parcel. They were given seven days to amend their case, with a further mention on 24 November 2026.<ref name="kenyans-court">[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/127842-malindi-court-lifts-order-blocking-construction-ksh-22t-dangote-lamu-oil-refinery Malindi Court Lifts Order Blocking Construction of Ksh 2.2T Dangote Lamu Oil Refinery], Samuel Mwanawanjuguna, Kenyans.co.ke, 14 October 2026.</ref>

=== How the project is being procured ===
Unlike the [[Lamu Spaceport]], whose transaction advisory Terms of Reference were tendered by the National Treasury's PPP Directorate in December 2025, the refinery has not been run as a solicited public private partnership. No Terms of Reference, request for proposals or transaction advisory tender for it has been published by the PPP Directorate, and it does not appear in the Directorate's June 2026 project status report.<ref>[https://pppkenya.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/KENYA-PPP-PROJECTS-PROGRESS-STATUS-REPORT-30TH-JUNE-2026-2.pdf Kenya PPP Projects Progress Status Report, 30th June 2026], PPP Directorate, The National Treasury, published August 2026.</ref> It is instead a Dangote-led private investment in which the state takes an equity stake through the National Infrastructure Fund.<ref name="allafrica-nif">[https://allafrica.com/stories/202609300435.html Kenya: Govt to Deploy Assets, Infrastructure Fund for Sh2.2tn Lamu Refinery Investment - Ruto], Capital FM via AllAfrica, 30 September 2026.</ref> A seed allocation of KES 21.5 billion through the National Infrastructure Fund was reported in July 2026.<ref name="independent">[https://www.independent.co.ug/dangotes-proposed-kenya-refinery-tests-a-new-blueprint-for-african-industrialisation/ Dangote's proposed Kenya refinery tests a new blueprint for African industrialisation], Andrino Akuda and Bonface Orucho (Bird Story Agency), The Independent (Uganda), 24 July 2026.</ref> As of October 2026 no feasibility study, environmental and social impact assessment, NEMA licence or shareholder agreement had been made public, which is the basis of several of the challenges described below.

== Who is involved ==
Aliko Dangote and Dangote Industries lead the project, which Dangote plans to finance with about 30 per cent equity and 70 per cent debt, drawing on internal cash, corporate bonds and a stock market listing.<ref>[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/125997-dangote-backed-lamu-oil-refinery-set-begin-construction-october Dangote-Backed Lamu Oil Refinery Set to Begin Construction in October 2026], Timothy Cerullo, Kenyans.co.ke, 8 August 2026.</ref><ref name="capfm-jul8" /> On the Kenyan side, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki chairs the implementation committee, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi handles the state's stake, Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome the land, and the Kenya Ports Authority the port.<ref name="bd-mbadi" /><ref name="capfm-wahome" /> The Africa Finance Corporation is reported as a backer, though no loan has been disclosed.<ref name="bd-mbadi" /> Engineers India Limited and Honeywell are the first named contractors.<ref name="ogj" />

Regional governments have been offered shares. Ethiopia and Rwanda have shown interest.<ref name="bd-mbadi" /> Uganda's President Museveni attended the groundbreaking and supports the project, but said Uganda would not invest for now and remains committed to its own 60,000 barrel a day refinery at Hoima.<ref name="museveni">[https://allafrica.com/stories/202610010186.html Uganda Yet to Commit to Dangote's Lamu Refinery - Museveni], The Independent (Kampala) via AllAfrica, 1 October 2026.</ref>

* [https://www.dangote.com/ Dangote Group]
* [https://www.lapsset.go.ke/ LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority]
* [https://www.kpa.co.ke/ Kenya Ports Authority]
* [https://pppkenya.go.ke/ PPP Directorate, The National Treasury]

== Concerns and counterpoints ==
The project has drawn criticism on environmental, economic and governance grounds. The positions are set out here by who holds them.

=== Environment and the Lamu archipelago ===
Greenpeace Africa argues that the refinery threatens the mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass that support Lamu's fisheries and protect the coast, through habitat loss, spills and air pollution. It says construction jobs would be temporary and would come at the cost of fishing and tourism, warns that the plant could become a stranded asset that locks Kenya into fossil fuels, and calls for all approvals to be frozen until an independent environmental and social impact assessment is published with public participation.<ref>[https://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/press/61255/greenpeace-africa-statement-on-the-proposed-dangote-oil-refinery-in-lamu/ Greenpeace Africa statement on the proposed Dangote oil refinery in Lamu], Greenpeace Africa, 14 July 2026.</ref> Mohamed Adow of Power Shift Africa called the decision environmentally reckless and economically short-sighted, on the grounds that it assumes decades of fuel demand that the world is trying to phase out.<ref>[https://www.climatechangenews.com/2026/07/15/campaigners-oppose-dangotes-planned-kenya-refinery-over-climate-and-ecological-risks/ Campaigners oppose Dangote's planned Kenya refinery over climate and ecological risks], Vivian Chime, Climate Home News, 15 July 2026.</ref>

Local voices raise similar points. The chair of the Lamu Beach Management Unit says fishers learned of the project only from the media and fear smaller catches and displacement, and Omar Elmawi of the Africa Movement of Movements Building Space warns of harm to fish breeding grounds and mangrove honey production, citing the Lamu coal plant as a precedent.<ref>[https://news.mongabay.com/2026/08/environmental-activists-in-kenya-concerned-over-billionaires-planned-oil-refinery/ Environmental activists in Kenya concerned over billionaire's planned oil refinery], Amina Chombo, Mongabay, 5 August 2026.</ref> That precedent matters in Lamu: the licence for Amu Power's 1,050 megawatt coal plant was cancelled by the National Environment Tribunal in 2019 for an inadequate impact assessment and public participation, and the Malindi Environment and Land Court upheld the cancellation in 2025.<ref>[https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/11/kenya-court-upholds-cancellation-of-1050-mw-coal-plant-license/ Kenya court upholds cancellation of 1,050 MW coal plant license], Mongabay, November 2025.</ref> Residents interviewed by AFP, including Khelef Khalifa of Muslims for Human Rights, said consultation should have come before commitments and excavation, and a tourism operator said visitors come for Lamu's culture, not oil tankers. Dangote, for his part, described critics as people who do not want Africa to develop.<ref>[https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/02/residents-of-kenyas-lamu-island-fear-damage-from-mega-refinery/ Residents of Kenya's Lamu island fear damage from mega-refinery], Africanews (AFP), 2 October 2026.</ref> Lamu Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a point the government's own review notes.<ref name="mygov-aug" />

=== Crude supply and refinery economics ===
Analysts quoted by Reuters point out that Kenya has no commercial crude output yet, that Uganda's crude is committed to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline to Tanga, and that South Sudan exports through Sudan. They note that Lamu has no working oil storage, that LAPSSET's planned storage and tanker berths are largely unbuilt, and that a pipeline from Lokichar or South Sudan to Lamu is a distant prospect, leaving the plant reliant on the seaborne crude market.<ref name="hp" /> Petroleum economist Kaase Gbakon doubts the financing, since the Dangote Group is already seeking about US$40 billion for energy projects between 2025 and 2030. Against this, presidential economic adviser David Ndii estimates that the region could supply more than 600,000 barrels a day.<ref>[https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/126924-experts-raise-concerns-over-crude-supply-financing-dangotes-lamu-refinery Experts Raise Concerns Over Crude Supply, Financing for Dangote's Lamu Refinery], Frankline Oduor, Kenyans.co.ke, 9 September 2026.</ref>

Professor Fred Ogola argues that the business case has not been made: in his reckoning domestic output would meet only a small share of the refinery's needs, regional demand of about 416,000 barrels a day falls short of its 700,000 barrel capacity while Uganda and Tanzania pursue their own refineries, and no comparison of sites, financing terms or guarantees has been disclosed.<ref>[https://thekenyatimes.com/latest-kenya-times-news/dangote-business-case/ Dangote's Lamu Refinery: Beyond Political Praise, Where Is The Business Case?], Prof. Fred Ogola, The Kenya Times, 14 October 2026.</ref> President Museveni recounted at the groundbreaking being told that refineries do not make a profit.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/museveni-backs-lamu-refinery-but-holds-off-investment-pending-tanga-clarification/ Museveni backs Lamu refinery but holds off investment pending Tanga clarification], Capital FM, 30 September 2026.</ref> Commentators also point to the Lagos refinery's repeated disputes with Nigeria's state oil company and regulators over crude allocation and import licences.<ref>[https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/05/23/in-fuel-import-licence-dispute-nnpc-accuses-dangote-refinery-of-seeking-monopoly/ In fuel import licence dispute, NNPC accuses Dangote refinery of seeking monopoly], ThisDay, 23 May 2026.</ref>

=== Transparency, public money and land ===
The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has petitioned the PPP Petition Committee to review Kenya's participation, saying it has seen no subscription agreement, valuation, procurement route, feasibility study or record of public participation, and asking how the state's stake of about KES 65 billion and the KES 21.5 billion seed allocation are being spent.<ref>[https://capitalfm.africa/cofek-seeks-review-of-sh2-2tn-dangote-lamu-refinery-project/ COFEK Seeks Review of Sh2.2tn Dangote Lamu Refinery Project], Phidel Kizito, Capital FM, 2 October 2026.</ref> Activist Francis Awino has a separate petition before the High Court, certified urgent, seeking disclosure of the public money, land, tax incentives and guarantees committed and the legal basis for the National Infrastructure Fund's involvement.<ref>[https://www.billionaires.africa/2026/10/06/africas-richest-man-aliko-dangotes-kenya-refinery-deal-faces-urgent-court-case/ Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote's Kenya refinery deal faces urgent court case], Otobong Tommy, Billionaires.Africa, 6 October 2026.</ref> Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has demanded publication of the agreement and the shareholder register, and asked whether any offtake commitment could stop Kenya importing cheaper fuel.<ref>[https://citizen.digital/article/ndindi-nyoro-demands-full-disclosure-of-dangote-lamu-refinery-shareholders-n391260 Ndindi Nyoro demands full disclosure of Dangote Lamu refinery shareholders], Citizen Digital, October 2026.</ref> Treasury Cabinet Secretary Mbadi has said that President Ruto holds no shares in the project.<ref>[https://citizen.digital/article/cs-mbadi-ruto-has-no-shares-in-ksh2-trillion-dangote-lamu-refinery-n391113 CS Mbadi: Ruto has no shares in Ksh.2 trillion Dangote Lamu refinery], Seth Olale, Citizen Digital, 29 September 2026.</ref>

On land, 133 residents of Hindi, Manda and Magogoni say the site includes their ancestral land and that they face displacement without a resettlement plan. Their case against the government agencies, LAPSSET, Lamu County and Dangote is pending before the Environment and Land Court at Malindi.<ref name="pd-court" /><ref name="kenyans-court" /> President Ruto has told Lamu residents their land concerns will be handled lawfully.<ref>[https://citizen.digital/article/dangote-east-africa-refinery-ruto-assures-lamu-residents-land-concerns-will-be-handled-lawfully-n391187 Dangote East Africa refinery: Ruto assures Lamu residents land concerns will be handled lawfully], Emmanuel Too, Citizen Digital, 30 September 2026.</ref>

== Sources ==
* [[:File:MyGov 6 October 2026 - Dangote Lamu oil refinery by the numbers.pdf|MyGov weekly review, Issue 14/2026-2027: Dangote Lamu oil refinery by the numbers]], Government Advertising Agency (Government of Kenya), 6 October 2026.
* [[:File:MyGov 4 August 2026 - Lamu oil refinery.pdf|MyGov weekly review, Issue 5/2026-2027: Mega projects turn Coast into investment hub]], Government Advertising Agency (Government of Kenya), 4 August 2026.
* [[:File:Senate Hansard 5 August 2026.pdf|Senate Hansard, Official Report, 5 August 2026]], Parliament of Kenya.
* [https://pppkenya.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/KENYA-PPP-PROJECTS-PROGRESS-STATUS-REPORT-30TH-JUNE-2026-2.pdf Kenya PPP Projects Progress Status Report, 30th June 2026], PPP Directorate, The National Treasury. The refinery is not listed.
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamu_Oil_Refinery Lamu Oil Refinery], Wikipedia.
* [https://www.ogj.com/refining-processing/news/55410915/dangote-taps-eil-for-kenya-grassroots-refinery-project Dangote taps EIL for Kenya grassroots refinery project], Oil & Gas Journal, 9 October 2026.
* [https://hydrocarbonprocessing.com/news/2026/09/dangotes-proposed-kenyan-oil-refinery-faces-hurdles-not-least-with-crude-supply/ Dangote's proposed Kenyan oil refinery faces hurdles, not least with crude supply], Hydrocarbon Processing (Reuters), 9 September 2026.
* [https://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/press/61255/greenpeace-africa-statement-on-the-proposed-dangote-oil-refinery-in-lamu/ Greenpeace Africa statement on the proposed Dangote oil refinery in Lamu], Greenpeace Africa, 14 July 2026.

== References ==
<references />

File:Senate Hansard 5 August 2026.pdf

2026-10-16T00:26:25Z

Jay: Source document for Lamu Oil Refinery

== Summary ==
The Senate of Kenya, Official Report (Hansard), Thirteenth Parliament, Fifth Session, sitting of Wednesday 5 August 2026. During debate on a report on fuel supply, senators welcomed the Dangote refinery planned for Lamu (printed pages 22, 25 and 28).

Contributed as a source for [[Lamu Oil Refinery]].

== Licensing ==
{{Government work}}

File:MyGov 4 August 2026 - Lamu oil refinery.pdf

2026-10-16T00:26:17Z

Jay: Source document for Lamu Oil Refinery

== Summary ==
MyGov weekly review, Issue 5/2026-2027, published by the Government Advertising Agency (Government of Kenya), 4 August 2026. The cover story, "Mega projects turn Coast into investment hub" (Kenya News Agency), covers the proposed Sh2.2 trillion Dangote refinery at Lamu and the LAPSSET corridor.

Contributed as a source for [[Lamu Oil Refinery]].

== Licensing ==
{{Government work}}

File:MyGov 6 October 2026 - Dangote Lamu oil refinery by the numbers.pdf

2026-10-16T00:26:00Z

Jay: Source document for Lamu Oil Refinery

== Summary ==
MyGov weekly review, Issue 14/2026-2027, published by the Government Advertising Agency (Government of Kenya), 6 October 2026. The cover story, "Dangote Lamu oil refinery by the numbers", reports the groundbreaking of the Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery in Lamu.

Contributed as a source for [[Lamu Oil Refinery]].

== Licensing ==
{{Government work}}

Lamu Spaceport

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Jay: Use the new Hero template for the top photo (full width, cropped 16:7)

MediaWiki:Citizen.js

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Jay: Lift the hero photo above the page title

/* Pwani 2050: lift the page's hero photo (Template:Hero) above the page title so it spans the
page, like the front door's hero. Styles are in MediaWiki:Common.css. Reading view only; in the
editor the hero stays in the text where it can be changed. */
( function () {
if ( mw.config.get( 'wgAction' ) !== 'view' ) {
return;
}
var hero = document.querySelector( '#mw-content-text .okc-hero' );
var header = document.querySelector( '.mw-body-header' );
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header.parentNode.insertBefore( hero, header );
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MediaWiki:Common.css

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Jay: Styles for the hero photo (Template:Hero)

Lamu Spaceport

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Jay: /* Who is involved */ + Hero Image + Resources

{{Infobox project
| name =
| status =
| theme = Industry
| counties =
| lead_organisation =
| partners =
| budget =
| funding_source =
| start_year =
| end_year =
| website =
}}

'''Lamu Spaceport''' is a project within the [[Industry]] theme.

[[File:Lamu Spaceport.png|center|frameless|639x639px]]

== What it is ==
Describe the project in a few sentences, and cite where each fact comes from.

A 2024 conference paper by Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro sets out the drivers for a spaceport on the Kenyan coast, though it focuses on the existing Broglio Space Center at Malindi. It argues that the coast's equatorial position and eastward-facing ocean improve fuel efficiency and satellite deployment trajectories.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 1.</ref> It also says the eastward orientation of the coastline provides a naturally safe crash zone over the ocean for launch accidents or staging jettisons.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 3.</ref> On cost, the paper gives a rough estimate of a mass saving of roughly 151 kg per Soyuz launch compared with Cape Canaveral, or $755,000 per launch, and notes that the calculation makes some assumptions.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 3.</ref> It names the deep-water port of Lamu, less than 120 km from Malindi, and the LAPSSet Corridor highway project as links to the launch location.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 5.</ref>

A case study paper by Meshack Ndiritu and Selina Hayes, presented at the 75th International Astronautical Congress in 2024, takes up the case for a public private partnership to establish an equatorial spaceport. Its abstract says the demand for more spaceports is rising, and estimates that the population of active satellites in orbit is surpassing 10,000, with an average of 50 launched weekly.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> In its base case scenario, 27,000 active satellites are foreseen by the end of 2030, implying an annual launch capability of 15 kilotons (Chris Daehnick, 2023).<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> The paper quotes Space News saying that Space Launch Delta 45 received 329 requests for launch dates on the Eastern Range, of which it approved 238, leading to 58 launches and 11 scrubs for weather or technical issues, and presents this as showing the need to seek non-traditional launch sites.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> The inherent advantages it lists for an equatorial spaceport are maximizing launch efficiency, increasing payload capacity, stable weather conditions for launches, and enabling access to various orbital inclinations.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> The paper presents a practical approach for establishing an equatorial spaceport off the Kenyan coast.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref>

== Status and timeline ==

== Who is involved ==
* [https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesmwangi/ Charles Mwangi - Kenya Space Agency]
* [https://www.linkedin.com/in/meshack-ndiritu/ Meshack Ndiritu]
* [https://www.linkedin.com/in/selinahayes/ Selina Hayes]
* [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-gugelev/ Kurt Gugelev]

== Sources ==
* [[:File:TERMS-OF-REFERENCE-TRANSACTION-ADVISORY-SERVICES-FOR-DEVELOPMENT-OF-A-COMMERCIAL-SPACEPORT-DECEMBER-20.pdf|Terms of Reference for the PPP tender for the Lamu Space Port]], Government of Kenya (The National Treasury, State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management), issued 16 December 2025.
* [[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|Unlocking New Horizons: The Role of Kenya's Broglio Space Center in the Commercial Space Era]], Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro, AIAA Region 2 Conference manuscript, 5 March 2024.
* [[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|Case Study for Public Private Partnership to Establish an Equatorial Spaceport]], Meshack Ndiritu and Selina Hayes, 75th International Astronautical Congress, 2024.

== References ==
<references />

File:Lamu Spaceport.png

2026-10-15T22:52:01Z

Jay:

Visualization of the possible Lamu Spaceport

Lamu Spaceport

2026-10-15T22:48:57Z

Jay: With the author's assistant: For the "Who is Involved" include these people: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesmwangi/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ | sources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesmwangi/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/meshack-ndiritu/,

{{Infobox project
| name =
| status =
| theme = Industry
| counties =
| lead_organisation =
| partners =
| budget =
| funding_source =
| start_year =
| end_year =
| website =
}}

'''Lamu Spaceport''' is a project within the [[Industry]] theme.

== What it is ==
Describe the project in a few sentences, and cite where each fact comes from.

A 2024 conference paper by Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro sets out the drivers for a spaceport on the Kenyan coast, though it focuses on the existing Broglio Space Center at Malindi. It argues that the coast's equatorial position and eastward-facing ocean improve fuel efficiency and satellite deployment trajectories.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 1.</ref> It also says the eastward orientation of the coastline provides a naturally safe crash zone over the ocean for launch accidents or staging jettisons.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 3.</ref> On cost, the paper gives a rough estimate of a mass saving of roughly 151 kg per Soyuz launch compared with Cape Canaveral, or $755,000 per launch, and notes that the calculation makes some assumptions.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 3.</ref> It names the deep-water port of Lamu, less than 120 km from Malindi, and the LAPSSet Corridor highway project as links to the launch location.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 5.</ref>

A case study paper by Meshack Ndiritu and Selina Hayes, presented at the 75th International Astronautical Congress in 2024, takes up the case for a public private partnership to establish an equatorial spaceport. Its abstract says the demand for more spaceports is rising, and estimates that the population of active satellites in orbit is surpassing 10,000, with an average of 50 launched weekly.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> In its base case scenario, 27,000 active satellites are foreseen by the end of 2030, implying an annual launch capability of 15 kilotons (Chris Daehnick, 2023).<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> The paper quotes Space News saying that Space Launch Delta 45 received 329 requests for launch dates on the Eastern Range, of which it approved 238, leading to 58 launches and 11 scrubs for weather or technical issues, and presents this as showing the need to seek non-traditional launch sites.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> The inherent advantages it lists for an equatorial spaceport are maximizing launch efficiency, increasing payload capacity, stable weather conditions for launches, and enabling access to various orbital inclinations.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> The paper presents a practical approach for establishing an equatorial spaceport off the Kenyan coast.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref>

== Status and timeline ==

== Who is involved ==
* [https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesmwangi/ Charles Mwangi]
* [https://www.linkedin.com/in/meshack-ndiritu/ Meshack Ndiritu]
* [https://www.linkedin.com/in/selinahayes/ Selina Hayes]
* [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-gugelev/ Kurt Gugelev]

== Sources ==
* [[:File:TERMS-OF-REFERENCE-TRANSACTION-ADVISORY-SERVICES-FOR-DEVELOPMENT-OF-A-COMMERCIAL-SPACEPORT-DECEMBER-20.pdf|Terms of Reference for the PPP tender for the Lamu Space Port]], Government of Kenya (The National Treasury, State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management), issued 16 December 2025.
* [[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|Unlocking New Horizons: The Role of Kenya's Broglio Space Center in the Commercial Space Era]], Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro, AIAA Region 2 Conference manuscript, 5 March 2024.
* [[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|Case Study for Public Private Partnership to Establish an Equatorial Spaceport]], Meshack Ndiritu and Selina Hayes, 75th International Astronautical Congress, 2024.

== References ==
<references />

Lamu Spaceport

2026-10-15T22:45:46Z

Jay: With the author's assistant: Case Study paper presented at the IAC Conference by Meshak Nderitu and Selina Hayes on the need for a Privat Public Part | sources: File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf

{{Infobox project
| name =
| status =
| theme = Industry
| counties =
| lead_organisation =
| partners =
| budget =
| funding_source =
| start_year =
| end_year =
| website =
}}

'''Lamu Spaceport''' is a project within the [[Industry]] theme.

== What it is ==
Describe the project in a few sentences, and cite where each fact comes from.

A 2024 conference paper by Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro sets out the drivers for a spaceport on the Kenyan coast, though it focuses on the existing Broglio Space Center at Malindi. It argues that the coast's equatorial position and eastward-facing ocean improve fuel efficiency and satellite deployment trajectories.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 1.</ref> It also says the eastward orientation of the coastline provides a naturally safe crash zone over the ocean for launch accidents or staging jettisons.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 3.</ref> On cost, the paper gives a rough estimate of a mass saving of roughly 151 kg per Soyuz launch compared with Cape Canaveral, or $755,000 per launch, and notes that the calculation makes some assumptions.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 3.</ref> It names the deep-water port of Lamu, less than 120 km from Malindi, and the LAPSSet Corridor highway project as links to the launch location.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 5.</ref>

A case study paper by Meshack Ndiritu and Selina Hayes, presented at the 75th International Astronautical Congress in 2024, takes up the case for a public private partnership to establish an equatorial spaceport. Its abstract says the demand for more spaceports is rising, and estimates that the population of active satellites in orbit is surpassing 10,000, with an average of 50 launched weekly.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> In its base case scenario, 27,000 active satellites are foreseen by the end of 2030, implying an annual launch capability of 15 kilotons (Chris Daehnick, 2023).<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> The paper quotes Space News saying that Space Launch Delta 45 received 329 requests for launch dates on the Eastern Range, of which it approved 238, leading to 58 launches and 11 scrubs for weather or technical issues, and presents this as showing the need to seek non-traditional launch sites.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> The inherent advantages it lists for an equatorial spaceport are maximizing launch efficiency, increasing payload capacity, stable weather conditions for launches, and enabling access to various orbital inclinations.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref> The paper presents a practical approach for establishing an equatorial spaceport off the Kenyan coast.<ref>[[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf]], page 1.</ref>

== Status and timeline ==

== Who is involved ==

== Sources ==
* [[:File:TERMS-OF-REFERENCE-TRANSACTION-ADVISORY-SERVICES-FOR-DEVELOPMENT-OF-A-COMMERCIAL-SPACEPORT-DECEMBER-20.pdf|Terms of Reference for the PPP tender for the Lamu Space Port]], Government of Kenya (The National Treasury, State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management), issued 16 December 2025.
* [[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|Unlocking New Horizons: The Role of Kenya's Broglio Space Center in the Commercial Space Era]], Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro, AIAA Region 2 Conference manuscript, 5 March 2024.
* [[:File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf|Case Study for Public Private Partnership to Establish an Equatorial Spaceport]], Meshack Ndiritu and Selina Hayes, 75th International Astronautical Congress, 2024.

== References ==
<references />

File:CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL - IAC.pdf

2026-10-15T22:44:53Z

Jay: Contributed as a source for Lamu Spaceport, with the author’s assistant

== Summary ==
CASE STUDY FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ESTABLISH AN EQUATORIAL SPACEPORT by Meshack Ndiritu & Selina Hayes

Contributed as a source for [[Lamu Spaceport]].

== Licensing ==
{{CC BY-SA 4.0}}

Lamu Spaceport

2026-10-15T22:40:37Z

Jay: With the author's assistant: Add this paper written by Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro for the AIAA conference about the unique drivers for a spaceport in Kenya | sources: File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf

{{Infobox project
| name =
| status =
| theme = Industry
| counties =
| lead_organisation =
| partners =
| budget =
| funding_source =
| start_year =
| end_year =
| website =
}}

'''Lamu Spaceport''' is a project within the [[Industry]] theme.

== What it is ==
Describe the project in a few sentences, and cite where each fact comes from.

A 2024 conference paper by Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro sets out the drivers for a spaceport on the Kenyan coast, though it focuses on the existing Broglio Space Center at Malindi. It argues that the coast's equatorial position and eastward-facing ocean improve fuel efficiency and satellite deployment trajectories.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 1.</ref> It also says the eastward orientation of the coastline provides a naturally safe crash zone over the ocean for launch accidents or staging jettisons.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 3.</ref> On cost, the paper gives a rough estimate of a mass saving of roughly 151 kg per Soyuz launch compared with Cape Canaveral, or $755,000 per launch, and notes that the calculation makes some assumptions.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 3.</ref> It names the deep-water port of Lamu, less than 120 km from Malindi, and the LAPSSet Corridor highway project as links to the launch location.<ref>[[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf]], page 5.</ref>

== Status and timeline ==

== Who is involved ==

== Sources ==
* [[:File:TERMS-OF-REFERENCE-TRANSACTION-ADVISORY-SERVICES-FOR-DEVELOPMENT-OF-A-COMMERCIAL-SPACEPORT-DECEMBER-20.pdf|Terms of Reference for the PPP tender for the Lamu Space Port]], Government of Kenya (The National Treasury, State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management), issued 16 December 2025.
* [[:File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf|Unlocking New Horizons: The Role of Kenya's Broglio Space Center in the Commercial Space Era]], Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro, AIAA Region 2 Conference manuscript, 5 March 2024.

== References ==
<references />

File:AIAA Region 2 Conference 2024 Manuscript - March 5 - Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro.pdf

2026-10-15T22:37:43Z

Jay: Contributed as a source for Lamu Spaceport, with the author’s assistant

== Summary ==
AIAA Paper written by Kurt Gugelev-Shapiro on the legacy of space exploration in Kenya, and why a new spaceport makes sense

Contributed as a source for [[Lamu Spaceport]].

== Licensing ==
{{CC BY-SA 4.0}}

MediaWiki:Gadget-AuthorAssistant.js

2026-10-15T22:34:45Z

Jay: Machine-seeded from the topic schema; no approved revision

/* The author's assistant (PRD 5.7, ADR D9).
Drafts a change to the current page from your instruction and the sources you name, shows the
diff, and saves only when you click, through your own session under your own name. The service
at /assistant/ holds no credential; it confirms who you are from this session and drafts. */
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fileDesc.on( 'input', uploadReady );
attachBox.append(
$( '<p class="okc-note">' ).text( 'The file is uploaded under your name, like any contribution. Choose the licence it was published under. It appears on the public site only after a reviewer approves it.' ),
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status.text( 'Uploading ' + filename + ' as ' + mw.config.get( 'wgUserName' ) + '\u2026' );
api.upload( f, {
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comment: 'Contributed as a source for [[' + title + ']], with the author\u2019s assistant',
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} ).then( function ( d ) {
addFile( ( d.upload && d.upload.filename ) || filename );
status.text( 'Uploaded. The assistant will read it when you draft the change.' );
fileInput.val( '' ); fileDesc.val( '' ); attachBox.hide();
}, function ( code, d ) {
var w = d && d.upload && d.upload.warnings;
if ( w && w.duplicate ) {
// the same document is already in the Collab Studio: use that copy rather than a second one
addFile( [].concat( w.duplicate )[ 0 ] );
status.text( 'This document is already in the Collab Studio, so the assistant will use that copy.' );
} else if ( w && ( w.exists || w[ 'exists-normalized' ] || w[ 'page-exists' ] ) ) {
status.text( 'A different file named ' + filename + ' already exists. Rename your file and upload again.' );
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status.text( 'The upload failed: ' + ( d && d.error ? d.error.info : code ) );
}
} ).always( uploadReady );
} );
var draftBtn = $( '<button class="okc-primary">' ).text( 'Draft the change' );
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panel.append(
$( '<h3>' ).text( 'Author’s assistant' ),
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instruction, urls, attachToggle, attachBox, fileList, draftBtn, scoutBtn, scoutList, status,
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root.append( panel, openBtn );
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// In the visual editor the assistant works on the saved page and saves as you, then reopens
// the editor on the new revision. Unsaved visual edits would be lost, so it refuses while there are any.
function veUnsaved() {
try {
return $( 'html' ).hasClass( 've-active' ) && ve.init.target.getSurface().getModel().hasBeenModified();
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openBtn.on( 'click', function () {
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if ( root.hasClass( 'okc-is-open' ) && $( 'html' ).hasClass( 've-active' ) ) {
status.text( veUnsaved()
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if ( root.hasClass( 'okc-is-open' ) ) {
fetch( '/assistant/whoami', { credentials: 'same-origin' } ).then( function ( r ) {
if ( !r.ok ) { status.text( r.status === 404 ? 'The assistant is switched off on this instance.' : 'Please log in to use the assistant.' ); draftBtn.prop( 'disabled', true ); }
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status.text( 'Reading the page and drafting…' );
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var rev = { revid: cur.revid };
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method: 'POST', credentials: 'same-origin',
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body: JSON.stringify( {
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renderSuggestions( d.suggestions, d.suggestions && d.suggestions.length
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function blockedMessage( matches ) {
return 'This draft links to ' + matches.join( ', ' ) + ', which the wiki does not accept. ' +
'Short links such as share.google or bit.ly hide where they lead, so they are blocked. ' +
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}

// Suggest sources: the commons first, then the web. The author ticks what to draw on.
function currentWikitext() {
if ( editing ) { return $.Deferred().resolve( $( '#wpTextbox1' ).val() ).promise(); }
return api.get( { action: 'query', prop: 'revisions', rvprop: 'content', rvslots: 'main', titles: title, formatversion: 2 } ).then( function ( data ) {
var page = data.query.pages[ 0 ];
return page.revisions ? page.revisions[ 0 ].slots.main.content : '';
} );
}
function renderSuggestions( suggestions, okMessage ) {
scoutList.empty();
if ( !suggestions || !suggestions.length ) { status.text( 'The scout found nothing suitable. You can still paste an address you trust.' ); return; }
suggestions.forEach( function ( sug ) {
var row = $( '<label class="okc-source">' );
var cb = $( '<input type="checkbox">' ).val( sug.url );
row.append( cb, ' ', $( '<b>' ).text( sug.title ), ' ', $( '<span class="okc-kind">' ).text( sug.kind === 'commons' ? 'in the commons' : 'web' ),
$( '<div class="okc-why">' ).text( sug.why + ( sug.caveat ? ' Caveat: ' + sug.caveat : '' ) ),
$( '<div class="okc-url">' ).append( $( '<a target="_blank" rel="noopener">' ).attr( 'href', sug.url ).text( sug.url ) ) );
scoutList.append( row );
} );
var use = $( '<button class="okc-secondary">' ).text( 'Use the ticked sources' ).on( 'click', function () {
var picked = scoutList.find( 'input:checked' ).map( function () { return this.value; } ).get();
var existing = urls.val().split( /\s+/ ).filter( Boolean );
urls.val( existing.concat( picked.filter( function ( u ) { return existing.indexOf( u ) < 0; } ) ).join( ' ' ) );
status.text( picked.length ? picked.length + ' source' + ( picked.length > 1 ? 's' : '' ) + ' added. Now click Draft the change.' : 'Nothing ticked.' );
} );
scoutList.append( $( '<div style="margin-top:6px">' ).append( use ) ).show();
status.text( okMessage );
}

scoutBtn.on( 'click', function () {
var text = instruction.val().trim();
if ( !text ) { status.text( 'Say what should change, so the scout knows what needs a source.' ); return; }
status.text( 'Looking in the commons and on the web\u2026' );
scoutBtn.prop( 'disabled', true );
currentWikitext().then( function ( wikitext ) {
return fetch( '/assistant/sources', {
method: 'POST', credentials: 'same-origin',
headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify( { title: title, wikitext: wikitext, instruction: text } )
} ).then( function ( r ) {
if ( !r.ok ) { return r.json().then( function ( e ) { throw new Error( e.detail || r.status ); } ); }
return r.json();
} );
} ).then( function ( d ) {
renderSuggestions( d.suggestions, 'Tick the sources to draw on, then draft. Only ticked addresses are used.' );
} ).catch( function ( e ) {
status.text( 'The scout could not search: ' + ( e && e.message ? e.message : e ) );
} ).always( function () { scoutBtn.prop( 'disabled', false ); } );
} );

saveBtn.on( 'click', function () {
if ( !proposal ) { return; }
if ( editing ) {
$( '#wpTextbox1' ).val( proposal.wikitext );
var summary = $( '#wpSummary' );
if ( summary.length && !summary.val() ) { summary.val( proposal.summary ); }
status.text( 'The draft is in the editor. Review it and save with the normal button; the edit will be yours.' );
result.hide();
root.removeClass( 'okc-is-open' );
return;
}
saveBtn.prop( 'disabled', true );
status.text( 'Saving as ' + mw.config.get( 'wgUserName' ) + '…' );
api.postWithToken( 'csrf', { action: 'edit', title: title, text: proposal.wikitext, summary: proposal.summary, baserevid: proposal.baserevid, formatversion: 2 } ).then( function () {
if ( $( 'html' ).hasClass( 've-active' ) ) {
location.href = mw.util.getUrl( title, { veaction: 'edit' } );
} else {
location.reload();
}
}, function ( code, e ) {
if ( code === 'spamblacklist' ) {
var m = e && e.error && e.error.spamblacklist && e.error.spamblacklist.matches;
status.text( blockedMessage( m || [ 'a blocked site' ] ) );
} else {
status.text( 'Save failed: ' + ( e && e.error ? e.error.info : code ) );
}
saveBtn.prop( 'disabled', false );
} );
} );

discardBtn.on( 'click', function () { proposal = null; result.hide(); status.text( 'Discarded. Nothing was saved.' ); } );
} );

Lamu Spaceport

2026-10-15T22:32:36Z

Jay: With the author's assistant: Add this document as a new source, citing that it is the Government of Kenya's Terms of Reference for the PPP tender for | sources: File:TERMS-OF-REFERENCE-TRANSACTION-ADVISORY-SERVICES-FOR-DEVELOPMENT-OF-A-COMMERCIAL-SPA

{{Infobox project
| name =
| status =
| theme = Industry
| counties =
| lead_organisation =
| partners =
| budget =
| funding_source =
| start_year =
| end_year =
| website =
}}

'''Lamu Spaceport''' is a project within the [[Industry]] theme.

== What it is ==
Describe the project in a few sentences, and cite where each fact comes from.

== Status and timeline ==

== Who is involved ==

== Sources ==
* [[:File:TERMS-OF-REFERENCE-TRANSACTION-ADVISORY-SERVICES-FOR-DEVELOPMENT-OF-A-COMMERCIAL-SPACEPORT-DECEMBER-20.pdf|Terms of Reference for the PPP tender for the Lamu Space Port]], Government of Kenya (The National Treasury, State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management), issued 16 December 2025.

File:TERMS-OF-REFERENCE-TRANSACTION-ADVISORY-SERVICES-FOR-DEVELOPMENT-OF-A-COMMERCIAL-SPACEPORT-DECEMBER-20.pdf

2026-10-15T22:31:55Z

Jay: Contributed as a source for Lamu Spaceport, with the author’s assistant

== Summary ==
he Government of Kenya's Terms of Reference for the PPP tender for the Lamu Space Port.

Contributed as a source for [[Lamu Spaceport]].

== Licensing ==
{{CC BY-SA 4.0}}

MediaWiki:Spamprotectiontext

2026-10-15T22:25:47Z

Jay: Machine-seeded from the topic schema; no approved revision

This edit could not be saved because it links to a site the wiki does not accept. Most often this is a short link, such as share.google, bit.ly or t.co, which hides where it really leads. Open the link in your browser, copy the full address of the page it leads to, and use that address instead.

MediaWiki:Spamprotectionmatch

2026-10-15T22:25:47Z

Jay: Machine-seeded from the topic schema; no approved revision

The link that was refused: $1

MediaWiki:Gadget-AuthorAssistant.js

2026-10-15T22:25:45Z

Jay: Machine-seeded from the topic schema; no approved revision

/* The author's assistant (PRD 5.7, ADR D9).
Drafts a change to the current page from your instruction and the sources you name, shows the
diff, and saves only when you click, through your own session under your own name. The service
at /assistant/ holds no credential; it confirms who you are from this session and drafts. */
$( function () {
var ns = mw.config.get( 'wgNamespaceNumber' );
var title = mw.config.get( 'wgPageName' ).replace( /_/g, ' ' );
var action = mw.config.get( 'wgAction' );
// On a view page the assistant saves as you; on the source editor it puts the draft into the
// editor so you save with the normal form. In the visual editor, switch to source editing first.
var editing = ( action === 'edit' || action === 'submit' ) && $( '#wpTextbox1' ).length > 0;
if ( ( ns !== 0 && ns !== 6 ) || ( action !== 'view' && !editing ) || !mw.config.get( 'wgUserName' ) ) {
return;
}
var api = new mw.Api();
var root = $( '<div id="okc-assistant">' );
var panel = $( '<div class="okc-panel">' );
var openBtn = $( '<button class="okc-open">' ).text( 'Author’s assistant' );
var instruction = $( '<textarea rows="4" placeholder="What should change on this page? For example: add these two sources under the Sources heading, or fill in the population from the source below.">' );
var urls = $( '<input type="text" placeholder="Optional: web addresses to draw on, separated by spaces">' );
// Attach a file: it is uploaded through your own session as your contribution, exactly as on the
// Upload page, and the assistant reads it as a source. It reaches the public site only after review.
var files = [];
var fileList = $( '<div class="okc-files">' );
var attachToggle = $( '<button class="okc-link">' ).text( 'Attach a file as a source' );
var attachBox = $( '<div class="okc-attach">' ).hide();
var fileInput = $( '<input type="file" accept=".pdf,.docx,.pptx,.xlsx,.csv,.png,.jpg,.jpeg,.gif,.webp,.svg,.mp3,.ogg,.wav,.m4a,.mp4,.webm">' );
var fileDesc = $( '<input type="text" placeholder="What is this document? For example: KPA annual report 2025">' );
var fileLicence = $( '<select>' );
var uploadBtn = $( '<button class="okc-secondary">' ).text( 'Upload and use' );
attachBox.append(
$( '<p class="okc-note">' ).text( 'The file is uploaded under your name, like any contribution. Choose the licence it was published under. It appears on the public site only after a reviewer approves it.' ),
fileInput, fileDesc, $( '<label class="okc-note">' ).text( 'Licence ' ).append( fileLicence ), $( '<div>' ).append( uploadBtn ) );
api.get( { action: 'query', prop: 'revisions', rvprop: 'content', rvslots: 'main', titles: 'MediaWiki:Licenses', formatversion: 2 } ).then( function ( data ) {
var page = data.query.pages[ 0 ];
var text = page.revisions ? page.revisions[ 0 ].slots.main.content : '';
text.split( '\n' ).forEach( function ( line ) {
var m = /^\*\*\s*([^|]+)\|(.+)$/.exec( line );
if ( m ) { fileLicence.append( $( '<option>' ).val( m[ 1 ].trim() ).text( m[ 2 ].trim() ) ); }
} );
} );
function renderFiles() {
fileList.empty();
files.forEach( function ( f, i ) {
fileList.append( $( '<span class="okc-file">' ).append(
$( '<a target="_blank">' ).attr( 'href', mw.util.getUrl( f ) ).text( f.replace( /^File:/, '' ) ),
$( '<button class="okc-x" title="Do not use this file">' ).text( '\u00d7' ).on( 'click', function () { files.splice( i, 1 ); renderFiles(); } ) ) );
} );
}
function addFile( name ) {
var t = 'File:' + name.replace( /^(File|Image):/i, '' ).replace( /_/g, ' ' );
if ( files.indexOf( t ) < 0 ) { files.push( t ); }
renderFiles();
}
attachToggle.on( 'click', function () { attachBox.toggle(); } );
uploadBtn.on( 'click', function () {
var f = fileInput[ 0 ].files && fileInput[ 0 ].files[ 0 ];
if ( !f ) { status.text( 'Choose a file first.' ); return; }
var desc = fileDesc.val().trim();
if ( !desc ) { status.text( 'Say in a few words what the document is, so others can find it.' ); return; }
var filename = f.name.replace( /[#<>\[\]|{}:\/]/g, '-' );
uploadBtn.prop( 'disabled', true );
status.text( 'Uploading ' + filename + ' as ' + mw.config.get( 'wgUserName' ) + '\u2026' );
api.upload( f, {
filename: filename,
comment: 'Contributed as a source for [[' + title + ']], with the author\u2019s assistant',
text: '== Summary ==\n' + desc + '\n\nContributed as a source for [[' + title + ']].\n\n== Licensing ==\n{{' + fileLicence.val() + '}}\n'
} ).then( function ( d ) {
addFile( ( d.upload && d.upload.filename ) || filename );
status.text( 'Uploaded. The assistant will read it when you draft the change.' );
fileInput.val( '' ); fileDesc.val( '' ); attachBox.hide();
}, function ( code, d ) {
var w = d && d.upload && d.upload.warnings;
if ( w && w.duplicate ) {
// the same document is already in the Collab Studio: use that copy rather than a second one
addFile( [].concat( w.duplicate )[ 0 ] );
status.text( 'This document is already in the Collab Studio, so the assistant will use that copy.' );
} else if ( w && ( w.exists || w[ 'exists-normalized' ] || w[ 'page-exists' ] ) ) {
status.text( 'A different file named ' + filename + ' already exists. Rename your file and upload again.' );
} else {
status.text( 'The upload failed: ' + ( d && d.error ? d.error.info : code ) );
}
} ).always( function () { uploadBtn.prop( 'disabled', false ); } );
} );
var draftBtn = $( '<button class="okc-primary">' ).text( 'Draft the change' );
var scoutBtn = $( '<button class="okc-secondary" style="margin-left:8px">' ).text( 'Suggest sources' );
var scoutList = $( '<div class="okc-sources">' ).hide();
var status = $( '<p>' );
var result = $( '<div>' ).hide();
var explanation = $( '<p>' );
var warn = $( '<div class="okc-warn">' ).hide();
var diff = $( '<div class="okc-diff">' );
var saveBtn = $( '<button class="okc-primary">' ).text( editing ? 'Put this in the editor' : 'Save this as my edit' );
var discardBtn = $( '<button class="okc-secondary" style="margin-left:8px">' ).text( 'Discard' );
var proposal = null;

panel.append(
$( '<h3>' ).text( 'Author’s assistant' ),
$( '<p>' ).text( 'Tell it what to change. You will see the diff before anything is saved, and the edit will be yours: your name, your responsibility, still needing a reviewer’s approval.' ),
instruction, urls, attachToggle, attachBox, fileList, draftBtn, scoutBtn, scoutList, status,
result.append( explanation, warn, diff, saveBtn, discardBtn,
$( '<p class="okc-note">' ).text( 'The edit summary will say the assistant helped and name any sources used.' ) )
);
root.append( panel, openBtn );
$( 'body' ).append( root );

// In the visual editor the assistant works on the saved page and saves as you, then reopens
// the editor on the new revision. Unsaved visual edits would be lost, so it refuses while there are any.
function veUnsaved() {
try {
return $( 'html' ).hasClass( 've-active' ) && ve.init.target.getSurface().getModel().hasBeenModified();
} catch ( e ) { return false; }
}

openBtn.on( 'click', function () {
root.toggleClass( 'okc-is-open' );
if ( root.hasClass( 'okc-is-open' ) && $( 'html' ).hasClass( 've-active' ) ) {
status.text( veUnsaved()
? 'You have unsaved changes in the visual editor. Save or discard them first; the assistant works on the saved page.'
: 'In the visual editor the assistant works on the saved page and saves the result as your edit, then reopens the editor.' );
}
if ( root.hasClass( 'okc-is-open' ) ) {
fetch( '/assistant/whoami', { credentials: 'same-origin' } ).then( function ( r ) {
if ( !r.ok ) { status.text( r.status === 404 ? 'The assistant is switched off on this instance.' : 'Please log in to use the assistant.' ); draftBtn.prop( 'disabled', true ); }
} );
}
} );

draftBtn.on( 'click', function () {
var text = instruction.val().trim();
if ( !text ) { status.text( 'Say what should change.' ); return; }
if ( veUnsaved() ) { status.text( 'You have unsaved changes in the visual editor. Save or discard them first; the assistant works on the saved page.' ); return; }
status.text( 'Reading the page and drafting…' );
draftBtn.prop( 'disabled', true );
result.hide();
var current = editing
? $.Deferred().resolve( { wikitext: $( '#wpTextbox1' ).val(), revid: undefined } ).promise()
: api.get( { action: 'query', prop: 'revisions', rvprop: 'content|ids', rvslots: 'main', titles: title, formatversion: 2 } ).then( function ( data ) {
var page = data.query.pages[ 0 ];
var rev = page.revisions && page.revisions[ 0 ];
return { wikitext: rev ? rev.slots.main.content : '', revid: rev ? rev.revid : undefined };
} );
current.then( function ( cur ) {
var wikitext = cur.wikitext;
var rev = { revid: cur.revid };
return fetch( '/assistant/draft', {
method: 'POST', credentials: 'same-origin',
headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify( {
title: title, wikitext: wikitext, instruction: text,
urls: urls.val().split( /\s+/ ).filter( function ( u ) { return u && !/^(File|Image):/i.test( u ); } ),
files: files.concat( urls.val().split( /\s+/ ).filter( function ( u ) { return /^(File|Image):/i.test( u ); } ) )
} )
} ).then( function ( r ) {
if ( !r.ok ) { return r.json().then( function ( e ) { throw new Error( e.detail || r.status ); } ); }
return r.json();
} ).then( function ( d ) {
proposal = { wikitext: d.wikitext, summary: d.summary, baserevid: rev ? rev.revid : undefined };
if ( d.unchanged ) {
// the assistant asked for a source instead of drafting: show its explanation and the scout's candidates
explanation.text( d.explanation );
diff.empty();
warn.hide();
result.show();
saveBtn.hide();
discardBtn.hide();
renderSuggestions( d.suggestions, d.suggestions && d.suggestions.length
? 'It needs a source for that. Tick one or more of these, click Use the ticked sources, then Draft the change again.'
: 'It needs a source for that, and the scout found none. Paste an address you trust and draft again.' );
return;
}
saveBtn.show().prop( 'disabled', false );
discardBtn.show();
explanation.text( d.explanation );
if ( d.warning ) { warn.text( d.warning ).show(); } else { warn.hide(); }
blockedLinks( d.wikitext, wikitext ).then( function ( bad ) {
if ( !bad.length ) { return; }
saveBtn.prop( 'disabled', true );
warn.text( blockedMessage( bad ) ).show();
} );
return api.post( { action: 'compare', fromslots: 'main', 'fromtext-main': wikitext, 'fromcontentmodel-main': 'wikitext', toslots: 'main', 'totext-main': d.wikitext, 'tocontentmodel-main': 'wikitext', prop: 'diff', formatversion: 2 } ).then( function ( c ) {
var body = c.compare.body || c.compare[ '*' ] || '';
diff.html( body ? '<table class="diff"><colgroup><col class="diff-marker"><col class="diff-content"><col class="diff-marker"><col class="diff-content"></colgroup>' + body + '</table>' : '<p>No difference.</p>' );
status.text( d.sources.length ? 'Sources used: ' + d.sources.join( ', ' ) : 'Drafted.' );
result.show();
} );
} );
} ).catch( function ( e ) {
status.text( 'The assistant could not draft that: ' + ( e && e.message ? e.message : e ) );
} ).always( function () { draftBtn.prop( 'disabled', false ); } );
} );

// Links the wiki will refuse. Link shorteners and some sites are on the spam blacklist; finding
// that out here, in plain words, beats a failed save.
function blockedLinks( newText, oldText ) {
var found = ( newText.match( /https?:\/\/[^\s\]|<>"']+/g ) || [] ).filter( function ( u, i, all ) {
return all.indexOf( u ) === i && oldText.indexOf( u ) < 0;
} );
if ( !found.length ) { return $.Deferred().resolve( [] ).promise(); }
return api.get( { action: 'spamblacklist', url: found.slice( 0, 50 ), formatversion: 2 } ).then( function ( r ) {
var res = r.spamblacklist || {};
return res.result === 'blacklisted' ? ( res.matches || [] ) : [];
}, function () { return []; } );
}
function blockedMessage( matches ) {
return 'This draft links to ' + matches.join( ', ' ) + ', which the wiki does not accept. ' +
'Short links such as share.google or bit.ly hide where they lead, so they are blocked. ' +
'Open the link, copy the full address of the page it leads to, and draft again with that address.';
}

// Suggest sources: the commons first, then the web. The author ticks what to draw on.
function currentWikitext() {
if ( editing ) { return $.Deferred().resolve( $( '#wpTextbox1' ).val() ).promise(); }
return api.get( { action: 'query', prop: 'revisions', rvprop: 'content', rvslots: 'main', titles: title, formatversion: 2 } ).then( function ( data ) {
var page = data.query.pages[ 0 ];
return page.revisions ? page.revisions[ 0 ].slots.main.content : '';
} );
}
function renderSuggestions( suggestions, okMessage ) {
scoutList.empty();
if ( !suggestions || !suggestions.length ) { status.text( 'The scout found nothing suitable. You can still paste an address you trust.' ); return; }
suggestions.forEach( function ( sug ) {
var row = $( '<label class="okc-source">' );
var cb = $( '<input type="checkbox">' ).val( sug.url );
row.append( cb, ' ', $( '<b>' ).text( sug.title ), ' ', $( '<span class="okc-kind">' ).text( sug.kind === 'commons' ? 'in the commons' : 'web' ),
$( '<div class="okc-why">' ).text( sug.why + ( sug.caveat ? ' Caveat: ' + sug.caveat : '' ) ),
$( '<div class="okc-url">' ).append( $( '<a target="_blank" rel="noopener">' ).attr( 'href', sug.url ).text( sug.url ) ) );
scoutList.append( row );
} );
var use = $( '<button class="okc-secondary">' ).text( 'Use the ticked sources' ).on( 'click', function () {
var picked = scoutList.find( 'input:checked' ).map( function () { return this.value; } ).get();
var existing = urls.val().split( /\s+/ ).filter( Boolean );
urls.val( existing.concat( picked.filter( function ( u ) { return existing.indexOf( u ) < 0; } ) ).join( ' ' ) );
status.text( picked.length ? picked.length + ' source' + ( picked.length > 1 ? 's' : '' ) + ' added. Now click Draft the change.' : 'Nothing ticked.' );
} );
scoutList.append( $( '<div style="margin-top:6px">' ).append( use ) ).show();
status.text( okMessage );
}

scoutBtn.on( 'click', function () {
var text = instruction.val().trim();
if ( !text ) { status.text( 'Say what should change, so the scout knows what needs a source.' ); return; }
status.text( 'Looking in the commons and on the web\u2026' );
scoutBtn.prop( 'disabled', true );
currentWikitext().then( function ( wikitext ) {
return fetch( '/assistant/sources', {
method: 'POST', credentials: 'same-origin',
headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify( { title: title, wikitext: wikitext, instruction: text } )
} ).then( function ( r ) {
if ( !r.ok ) { return r.json().then( function ( e ) { throw new Error( e.detail || r.status ); } ); }
return r.json();
} );
} ).then( function ( d ) {
renderSuggestions( d.suggestions, 'Tick the sources to draw on, then draft. Only ticked addresses are used.' );
} ).catch( function ( e ) {
status.text( 'The scout could not search: ' + ( e && e.message ? e.message : e ) );
} ).always( function () { scoutBtn.prop( 'disabled', false ); } );
} );

saveBtn.on( 'click', function () {
if ( !proposal ) { return; }
if ( editing ) {
$( '#wpTextbox1' ).val( proposal.wikitext );
var summary = $( '#wpSummary' );
if ( summary.length && !summary.val() ) { summary.val( proposal.summary ); }
status.text( 'The draft is in the editor. Review it and save with the normal button; the edit will be yours.' );
result.hide();
root.removeClass( 'okc-is-open' );
return;
}
saveBtn.prop( 'disabled', true );
status.text( 'Saving as ' + mw.config.get( 'wgUserName' ) + '…' );
api.postWithToken( 'csrf', { action: 'edit', title: title, text: proposal.wikitext, summary: proposal.summary, baserevid: proposal.baserevid, formatversion: 2 } ).then( function () {
if ( $( 'html' ).hasClass( 've-active' ) ) {
location.href = mw.util.getUrl( title, { veaction: 'edit' } );
} else {
location.reload();
}
}, function ( code, e ) {
if ( code === 'spamblacklist' ) {
var m = e && e.error && e.error.spamblacklist && e.error.spamblacklist.matches;
status.text( blockedMessage( m || [ 'a blocked site' ] ) );
} else {
status.text( 'Save failed: ' + ( e && e.error ? e.error.info : code ) );
}
saveBtn.prop( 'disabled', false );
} );
} );

discardBtn.on( 'click', function () { proposal = null; result.hide(); status.text( 'Discarded. Nothing was saved.' ); } );
} );

MediaWiki:Gadget-AuthorAssistant.css

2026-10-15T22:25:44Z

Jay: Machine-seeded from the topic schema; no approved revision

/* The author's assistant panel (PRD 5.7). */
#okc-assistant { position: fixed; right: 16px; bottom: 16px; z-index: 1000; font-size: 14px; }
#okc-assistant .okc-open { background: #0c6a8c; color: #fff; border: 0; border-radius: 999px; padding: 9px 16px; font-weight: 600; cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,.15); }
#okc-assistant .okc-panel { display: none; width: min(560px, calc(100vw - 32px)); max-height: 80vh; overflow: auto; background: #fff; color: #1d2a30; border: 1px solid #dfe6e8; border-radius: 12px; box-shadow: 0 8px 30px rgba(0,0,0,.18); padding: 14px 16px; margin-bottom: 8px; }
#okc-assistant.okc-is-open .okc-panel { display: block; }
#okc-assistant h3 { margin: 0 0 6px; font-size: 16px; }
#okc-assistant p { margin: 0 0 8px; color: #4d5c63; }
#okc-assistant textarea, #okc-assistant input[type=text] { width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; padding: 8px; border: 1px solid #dfe6e8; border-radius: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; }
#okc-assistant button.okc-primary { background: #0c6a8c; color: #fff; border: 0; border-radius: 8px; padding: 8px 14px; font-weight: 600; cursor: pointer; }
#okc-assistant button.okc-secondary { background: #f3f3f3; color: #1d2a30; border: 1px solid #dfe6e8; border-radius: 8px; padding: 8px 14px; cursor: pointer; }
#okc-assistant .okc-diff { margin: 10px 0; max-height: 40vh; overflow: auto; border: 1px solid #dfe6e8; border-radius: 8px; padding: 6px; font-size: 13px; }
#okc-assistant .okc-diff table.diff { width: 100%; }
#okc-assistant .okc-warn { background: #f3e9cd; border-radius: 8px; padding: 8px 10px; margin: 8px 0; }
#okc-assistant .okc-note { font-size: 12px; color: #4d5c63; margin-top: 8px; }
#okc-assistant button:disabled { opacity: .5; cursor: default; }
#okc-assistant .okc-sources { margin: 8px 0; }
#okc-assistant .okc-source { display: block; padding: 6px 8px; border: 1px solid #dfe6e8; border-radius: 8px; margin-bottom: 6px; cursor: pointer; }
#okc-assistant .okc-kind { font-size: 11px; background: #d8eef2; color: #00405c; border-radius: 999px; padding: 1px 7px; }
#okc-assistant .okc-why { color: #4d5c63; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 2px; }
#okc-assistant .okc-url { font-size: 12px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; }
#okc-assistant button.okc-link { background: none; border: 0; padding: 0; color: #0c6a8c; text-decoration: underline; cursor: pointer; margin-bottom: 8px; display: block; }
#okc-assistant .okc-attach { border: 1px dashed #dfe6e8; border-radius: 8px; padding: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; }
#okc-assistant .okc-attach select { font: inherit; margin: 0 0 8px; }
#okc-assistant .okc-attach input[type=file] { margin-bottom: 8px; }
#okc-assistant .okc-files { margin-bottom: 8px; }
#okc-assistant .okc-file { display: inline-block; background: #d8eef2; color: #00405c; border-radius: 999px; padding: 2px 4px 2px 10px; margin: 0 6px 6px 0; font-size: 13px; }
#okc-assistant .okc-x { background: none; border: 0; cursor: pointer; color: #00405c; padding: 0 4px; }