At least Lamu residents have moved to the Malindi High Court over a land dispute linked to preparations for the proposed Dangote refinery, seeking intervention over alleged destruction of property and fears of displacement.The residents want the court to stop further activities on the disputed land until their claims are addressed, including compensation and a clear resettlement plan for families who could be affected by the project.The case comes as residents hold demonstrations demanding compensation, with the community calling on the government to provide a clear way forward for families who say they have occupied and used the land for generations.Additionally, the plaintiffs have named several national and county government agencies, the National Land Commission, the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority, Dangote Industries and two companies described as contractors in the court proceedings.According to the residents, their families have long farmed and kept livestock on portions of LR No. 13061 in Chandavai, which they say also contains homes, mosques, shrines and family graves.The court action comes as preparations for the refinery gather pace, with the Port of Lamu receiving 2,930 metric tonnes of heavy machinery delivered by MV Da Yang a few days ago for the planned project.The machinery is expected to be used in the construction of the Ksh2.2 trillion (USD17 billion) Dangote East Africa Refinery and petrochemical complex, ahead of a planned groundbreaking ceremony next week.Additionally, the proposed refinery is expected to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with plans to source crude from Kenya's Lokichar oilfields in Turkana as well as other parts of East and Southern Africa.The residents allege that government and LAPSSET agents arrived with bulldozers on August 7, 2024, and destroyed crops and trees without prior notice or compensation. They claim local administrators later told them the land had been acquired for LAPSSET and allocated to the Ministry of Defence for works around Manda Bay.The dispute has intensified with preparations for the refinery, and the plaintiffs claim soil testing began in July 2026, while police officers, chiefs and other government agents allegedly cleared a disputed parcel on September 10 ahead of the planned groundbreaking ceremony.“We have not known the stand or way forward. We ask the government to provide a way forward,” one resident said during the demonstrations, as the community demanded compensation before further works proceed.The residents are asking the Malindi High Court to protect their claimed interests as the refinery and other major projects advance in Lamu, placing the dispute at the centre of questions over compensation and community rights as construction preparations move forward.
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