The Environment and Land Court in Malindi has temporarily stopped activities on the site after 133 residents filed a case saying the land belongs to their communities and has been passed down through generations.

For the residents, the land is more than a proposed construction site. They say they depend on it for farming and keeping livestock and fear the project could disrupt their livelihoods.

Judge Jane Onyango ordered that no activities take place on the disputed land until October 14, when the court is expected to consider the case again.

Dangote Group, which is behind the proposed refinery, says the ruling will not prevent the official launch of the project.

“The court has not stopped the launch ceremony for the construction of the refinery,” the company said.

It added, however, that some activities could be affected because both sides have been ordered not to take action on the land until the next court hearing.

A project worth billions

If completed, the Lamu refinery is expected to process about 700,000 barrels of petroleum products a day.

Dangote Group estimates the project will cost between $15bn and $16bn, with construction expected to be completed by 2030.

The company says the refinery could help Kenya and other countries in the region reduce their dependence on imported refined petroleum products and provide a more reliable supply.

But while the project promises a major boost to Kenya’s energy sector, the residents’ case highlights a different concern: what happens to communities living on land targeted for large-scale development?

The residents say their connection to the land stretches back generations, and that they rely on it for their daily lives.

The court will return to the dispute on October 14, when it is expected to consider the next steps in the case.