Govt steps up crackdown on illegal LPG trade
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said illegal LPG operations remain a major public safety concern, citing past fires involving illegally traded or refilled cylinders that have caused deaths.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 27 - The Kenyan government is ramping up efforts to combat illegal LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) refilling and trading as safety risks from unregulated gas cylinders rise. Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi stated that illegal LPG operations pose a significant public safety concern, pointing to past fires caused by the use of illegally traded or refilled cylinders.
To tackle this issue, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) is collaborating with the National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to locate and seize illegally refilled cylinders. Once seized, the cylinders undergo a witnessed inventory process managed by EPRA, the police, and the operator involved, before any administrative or legal proceedings are initiated.
Affected operators are afforded the chance to present their case before any action is taken. Additionally, the government intends to implement a tracking system for LPG cylinders throughout the supply chain, utilizing serialization to enhance accountability and deter illegal refilling and trading. While the procurement of this tracking system is still pending, the government remains committed to enforcing stricter regulations despite pushback from businesses impacted by these measures.
Wandayi emphasized that the crackdown on illegal LPG activities will intensify until full compliance is achieved. This intensified effort comes as LPG demand in Kenya continues to surge, necessitating more stringent regulation of the sector. According to EPRA data, LPG consumption rose to 414,861 metric tonnes in the year ending June 2025, a 15 percent increase from 360,594 tonnes in 2023.
Per capita consumption also climbed to 7.9 kilogrammes in 2024/25 from 7.0 kilogrammes in 2023. Demand has persisted, with LPG consumption increasing by 14.59 percent to 251,425 metric tonnes between July and December 2025, up from 219,416 tonnes in the same period the previous year. Monthly consumption in December 2025 was 42,539 tonnes, compared to 42,708 tonnes in August.
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