What Happened to Dangote’s Kitui Plan? Kalonzo Points Finger at Ruto

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has accused President William Ruto of frustrating an earlier attempt by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote to establish a cement factory in Kitui County.

Kalonzo made the remarks on Wednesday as Ruto and Dangote led the groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed Dangote East African Refinery in Lamu.

He said Dangote had sought to invest in Kenya when Ruto was Deputy President but that the cement project did not take off.

“I followed it when Mr Ruto was in office as deputy president. They frustrated Dangote, who wanted to invest in a cement factory in Kitui,” Kalonzo said.

Kalonzo did not give details of the actions he attributed to Ruto or explain how the alleged frustration affected the proposed investment.

He nevertheless welcomed Dangote’s decision to invest in Kenya, saying the businessman should not be associated with any particular political leader.

“Don’t think Dangote belongs to Ruto; he doesn’t. He belongs to Africa. He’s one of the investors we are proud of,” Kalonzo said.

Dangote has separately spoken about his earlier attempt to enter Kenya’s cement industry. In an interview with the Daily Nation, he said the plans were frustrated by an alleged demand for a kickback from an unnamed government official. Dangote said he declined to pay and raised the matter with then-President Uhuru Kenyatta after Ruto, who was Deputy President at the time, took him to the President.

The earlier cement plans were eventually put on hold, according to the Daily Nation.

The issue has resurfaced as Dangote begins work on the proposed Lamu refinery, which is planned to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

The Lamu project is expected to serve Kenya and other markets in the region, with Dangote and the government presenting it as a major investment in the country's energy sector.