Netizens Blast Kenyan Presidential Hopeful Over Threat On Dangote

Nigerians on X have descended heavily on Kenyan presidential hopeful, Patrick Osoi, over his threat to force Aliko Dangote out of Kenya if he wins the February 2027 presidential election.

Osoi had in a video shared by AM Media warned the President of Dangote Group against rushing the construction of his proposed 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Kenya, vowing to send him back to Nigeria after his inauguration.

“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,” Osoi said.

“Because we are asking a refinery which can do that job. We also have business people in this country who can do that job.”

The comment, coming just days after Dangote and Kenyan President William Ruto performed the groundbreaking of the $16 billion refinery project at Lamu Port, has stirred angry reactions online, with many describing it as xenophobic, populist and anti-investment.

Leading the backlash, Yahaya Musa accused Osoi of baseless hatred, “As if he needs your country to survive. Just baseless hatred because he’s doing well. If it was the white man you’ll have sacrificed everything just so they can stay. That’s why they don’t rate us. Shame.”

Pecu said the candidate was at least open about his intentions, “He is even nice for telling you ahead, if it was in South Africa, they will allow you build first, then you will be ask to droven from the country making the properties theirs.”

Horizon lamented the growing hostility among Africans, “I said it the other day, AFRICANS HAVE LOST IT AGAINST EACH OTHER. We used to co-exist now we fight each other? Disgraceful.”

Commander Kim questioned Osoi’s grasp of the deal, “He knows their people will own %30 of the refinery, right????”

Other users mocked the presidential bid itself. Nze wrote, “From his look he doesn’t look like someone who can win an election,” while Tobiloba added: “This one must be the Sowore of Kenya.”

Pella reacted on a lighter note, “Abeg wetin go do my share?”

The proposed 700,000 bpd refinery, flagged off on September 30 and slated for completion by 2030, is expected to reduce East Africa’s dependence on imported refined products, similar to Dangote’s refinery in Lagos which has turned Nigeria into an emerging exporter.