Why some African leaders skipped Dangote Lamu refinery launch

President William Ruto has explained the absence of several African heads of state from Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the Sh2 trillion Dangote East Africa Refinery in Lamu.

Ruto said some leaders who had planned to attend were held up by official engagements, while others sent representatives and messages of support for the project, which he described as an East African investment.

He said he had spoken to Mozambique President Daniel Chapo on Wednesday morning and was informed that the leader was on a State visit to Botswana.

“He would have wanted to be here. He has sent his blessings, his goodwill, and he is part of this project,” Ruto said.

The President also addressed the absence of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, saying he had spoken to her and that Tanzania had sent a delegation to represent her.

Suluhu’s absence came as she mourns the death of her husband.

Dangote Group president Aliko Dangote had earlier sent his condolences to the Tanzanian leader during the ceremony.

Ruto said he had also spoken to Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who committed to sending a delegation because he regarded the refinery as a regional project.

Rwanda President Paul Kagame had also made arrangements to attend but could not make it.

“I spoke to the President of Rwanda, my good brother Paul Kagame. He had even made all the arrangements to come, but for technical reasons, he didn’t manage to come here. He sends his goodwill,” Ruto said.

The President thanked Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for attending the groundbreaking, saying his presence demonstrated the importance of the project beyond Kenya.

“I know, my brother, you came here, and the sacrifices you have made to be here today. The people of Kenya appreciate the sacrifices you have made to be here with us,” Ruto said.

He said the refinery was significant not only for Kenya but also Ethiopia and the wider region.

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Ruto also praised former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he referred to as a father and credited with supporting regional integration and the development of the Dangote business.

He noted that Obasanjo, at nearly 90 years old, had travelled for 11 hours to attend the ceremony.

“We don’t take that for granted. We see it as solidarity and confidence in our region,” Ruto said.

The President used the occasion to praise Dangote for investing heavily across Africa, saying the Nigerian businessman had challenged the perception that major investors on the continent must come from outside Africa.

“Ordinarily, when people talk about investors, they think they must be white people. Sometimes it’s difficult to persuade people that we have black people who are investors,” Ruto said.

He said Dangote’s investments in Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and other countries were an inspiration to Africans.

The Lamu refinery is designed to process about 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and is expected to anchor a wider industrial ecosystem in the region.

Ruto said the attendance of African leaders and their representatives demonstrated continental support for the project and its potential to strengthen regional economic cooperation.

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Ruto has no shares in Ksh.2 trillion Dangote Lamu refinery; CS Mbadi