The government has clarified that gas cylinders, which were initially promised to be distributed for free to vulnerable households, will now be offered at subsidised prices.
This marks a shift from the original plan announced as part of the government’s clean energy initiative, which was aimed at low-income families. During the 2022 election campaign, President William Ruto promised that his government would issue free gas cylinders to Kenyans.
Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director General Daniel Kiptoo announced on Monday, while appearing before the Senate Standing Committee on Energy, where he stated that the decision was aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the programme and preventing misuse of public resources.
“Our goal is affordability and safety, not free distribution. The subsidy ensures access while enabling EPRA to sustain the program,” Kiptoo said.
Crackdown on Illegal dealers
At the same time, Kiptoo told the lawmakers that the government has launched a nationwide crackdown on illegal gas dealers and counterfeit LPG cylinders, intensifying efforts to protect consumers from unsafe refilling practices and prevent explosions.
He revealed that enforcement teams had been dispatched across the country to dismantle cartels involved in illegal gas refilling operations.
The EPRA boss noted that several unlicensed plants had already been raided and hundreds of fake cylinders confiscated, with plans to expand the operation to more areas.
“We are committed to ensuring that every cylinder in the Kenyan market is genuine and safe for use. Eliminating unlawful cylinders is not just regulation; it is a matter of protecting lives,” said Kiptoo.
Additionally, the EPRA boss briefed lawmakers on ongoing regulatory measures in the LPG sector, with lawmakers demanding more clarifications on safety enforcement, seizure of unlawful cylinders, and EPRA’s broader plan to restore order in the market.
Kiptoo told the committee that the Authority had intensified surveillance and enforcement efforts following a surge in illegal refilling sites that have been operating without licenses.
He warned that operators found culpable would face prosecution and revocation of any trading permits.
During the session, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna questioned the agency on how it intends to guarantee safety, especially as schools and public institutions transition to LPG use, citing the Embakasi explosion as a tragic reminder of the consequences of regulatory lapses.
In response, the EPRA Director General assured the committee that strict safety measures have been put in place to avert similar disasters, noting that the Authority had enhanced monitoring and inspection standards.
Meanwhile, following the meeting, senators toured EPRA’s storage site, where seized illegal cylinders are kept, most stored in shipping containers pending legal action.
