Kenyan Court Orders Status Quo on Dangote Refinery Land

A Kenyan court has ordered parties to preserve the status quo on land earmarked for Dangote Group’s proposed refinery in Lamu County until a hearing on October 14, leaving the scope of permitted activity at the site unclear. The company says the order does not halt the refinery’s scheduled groundbreaking ceremony on September 30, but acknowledges that site activities may be affected. The reports do not confirm whether the ceremony has taken place. The Malindi Environment and Land Court issued the order on September 25 in response to a case brought by 133 Chandavai residents disputing the use of land for the project. The court has not issued a final ruling on the refinery or determined the residents’ claims. Its directions require the parties to maintain the existing status of the disputed land until the next hearing. The company distinguishes between holding a ceremony and carrying out work on the site. Dangote Group said that the order had not halted the groundbreaking at this stage, while warning that activities at the site could be affected.