President William Ruto has announced plans to build an East Africa refinery in Lamu that he says will create 60,000 jobs, positioning the project as part of a wider government strategy to expand employment opportunities for young people while supporting regional economic integration.
Speaking on Friday, July 10, 2026, during the disbursement of the second tranche of the NYOTA funds, Ruto said the refinery will not only serve Kenya but also several countries across the region, making it a major shared investment for East Africa.
“Kenya sasa tutajenga refinery ya East Africa refinery hapa kwetu Lamu. Na pale tutahitaji vijana elfu sitini wa kufanya hiyo kazi,” Ruto said.
The President said the planned refinery will serve Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, adding that the project is expected to open up thousands of employment opportunities for Kenyan youth.
President William Ruto joins youths in a jig the unveiling of the 2nd tranche funding for NYOTA initiative at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on July 10, 2026 PHOTOS/PCS
Ruto revealed that he had held discussions with Nigerian billionaire investor Aliko Dangote on the refinery project, saying they had agreed that it should be developed as a regional facility rather than one serving Kenya alone.
“Mimi nimeongea na mwekezaji ndugu yetu Aliko Dangote. Na tumekubaliana ya kwamba hiyo refinery ambayo sio ya Kenya peke yake, ni ya Ethiopia, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, mpaka DRC,” he said.
He said the refinery is among several major government projects expected to absorb thousands of young people into the workforce.
“Hiyo refinery itatupatia nafasi ya ajira ya vijana wetu. Hapa Talanta tuko na ajira ya vijana wetu. Sasa tumeanza ujenzi wa airport, tutakuwa na ajira ya vijana wetu,” he added.
The President also announced that the National Infrastructure Fund is now fully operational and currently holds Sh350 billion, saying the money will be used to finance key development projects across the country.
“I can stand before the nation today, that now we have a National Infrastructure Fund. And today, we have 350 billion Kenya shillings in our National Infrastructure Fund,” Ruto said.
According to the President, the fund gives the government the financial capacity to accelerate investments in infrastructure, transport, logistics, energy, water harvesting, and irrigation, which he said are essential for the country's future growth.
“We can now, with confidence, face the future in matters to do with infrastructure development in Kenya, transport and logistics, our energy requirements, our water harvesting and irrigation, as I committed to the nation,” he said.
President William Ruto (C) arrives for the unveiling of the 2nd tranche funding for NYOTA initiative at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on July 10, 2026. PHOTO/PCS