Kenya’s President William Ruto has acknowledged that his public push for a proposed oil refinery in Tanga stirred discomfort in Tanzania, admitting he was told the announcement annoyed some people.
Speaking during his visit to Tanzania, Ruto addressed the issue in a light tone, saying if he had known the reaction, he might have suggested the refinery be built in Mombasa instead. His remarks drew attention because they followed comments from Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who earlier said she had questioned Ruto over the announcement, noting she was unaware of such plans at the time.
The issue traces back to April 23, when Ruto publicly stated that East African countries were in discussions to build a joint oil refinery at the port of Tanga. The proposal was framed as a regional industrial project involving multiple governments.
During his latest remarks, Ruto emphasized the scale of the opportunity tied to the refinery project, describing it as a major driver for business and industrial growth. He pointed to potential downstream sectors including petrochemicals, fertilizer production, and plastics manufacturing, saying the facility could anchor broader economic development across the region.
Ruto said his earlier discussions with Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni focused on using regional resources to accelerate industrialization. He added that the refinery idea had attracted interest from multiple countries, including Rwanda.
“I’m told my good brother Paul Kagame said they are willing to invest,” Ruto said, suggesting the project could become a joint East African venture.
He framed Tanzania as being in a strong position due to the proposed location of the refinery, telling Tanzanians they were “lucky” to be at the center of the discussions. He also expressed hope that Tanzania itself would commit to investing in the project alongside Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and other interested partners.
The exchange highlights early-stage tensions around coordination and communication in regional infrastructure planning, especially for projects involving strategic resources like oil. Tanga has long been considered a potential energy hub due to its coastal access and proximity to regional markets.
Neither government has announced a formal agreement or timeline for the refinery, and it remains unclear how far discussions have progressed beyond initial proposals and political signaling.
The comments from both leaders come as East African countries continue to explore joint investments aimed at reducing reliance on imported refined petroleum products and boosting local industrial capacity.
