President William Ruto has criticised opposition leaders questioning the terms of the agreement between the government and Dangote Group over the Sh2.2 trillion refinery project in Lamu.
Speaking in Mombasa on Thursday, Ruto said the project would create jobs and support development, and accused some leaders of trying to frustrate the investment.
His remarks came a day after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna asked the Senate why lawmakers had not been given access to the agreement or briefed on the commitments made by the government.
He further alleged that those behind the demand wanted access to the agreement to create an opportunity to pressure Dangote for their own interests.
The President also dismissed the calls for the agreement to be made public, saying Parliament has an established procedure through which lawmakers can request government agreements.
Sifuna has maintained that major development projects should comply with the Constitution and be subject to parliamentary oversight.
He said senators had not seen the refinery agreement or been informed of the commitments Kenya had made to facilitate the project.
The dispute comes as Kenya moves ahead with the Dangote East Africa Refinery, which was formally launched in Lamu on September 30.
The refinery is planned to have a capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The project has also attracted questions over land, compensation, public participation and environmental concerns.
Ruto has continued to defend the project, saying it will bring investment, jobs and economic opportunities to Lamu and the wider region.
