Kenyan presidential candidate Patrick Osoi has warned Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote against rushing to establish a refinery in Kenya, vowing to prioritise local businesses if elected president.

Osoi, speaking at a campaign event, said Kenya had the facilities and indigenous entrepreneurs needed to undertake refinery projects without relying on foreign investors.

He warned Dangote that his proposed investment could be halted when he assumes office, which he claimed would happen in February next year.

“I want to tell Dangote, please don’t hurry up to start the refinery because by next year February, the time I’m sworn in as the president of this country, you’ll be back going to Nigeria,” he said.

The candidate argued that existing refinery infrastructure and the capacity of Kenyan businesspeople made it unnecessary to depend on foreign investors for such projects.

“We have refinery which can do that job. We also have business people in this country who can do that job,” he added.

Osoi said his administration would focus on empowering local entrepreneurs, strengthening domestic industries and ensuring that Kenyan businesses play a leading role in the country’s economic development.

His remarks come amid discussions about foreign investment in Kenya’s petroleum sector. However, the feasibility of his proposed approach and its potential implications for Dangote’s reported refinery plans remain unclear.