The government has warned that it will intensify the crackdown on illegal activities in the liquefied petroleum gas sector, saying the measures are necessary to protect consumers and improve safety.
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said the government would not bow to political pressure or allow cartels to benefit from illicit LPG trade.
“The crackdown on illegal LPG operations will be intensified until full compliance is achieved,” Wandayi said in a statement issued on August 26, 2026.
The Cabinet Secretary said the government’s efforts are anchored in the LPG National Growth Strategy approved by Cabinet in October 2023.
The strategy seeks to encourage Kenyans to shift from biomass fuels to LPG, which the government considers a cleaner source of energy.
Wandayi said one of the strategy’s key areas is legal and regulatory reform aimed at stopping illegal refilling and illicit trade in LPG, which he described as a threat to public safety.
The LPG sector is regulated by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority under the Energy Act and Petroleum Act.
The government has also introduced the Petroleum (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) (No. 2) Regulations, 2025, which were gazetted on November 14, 2025.
The regulations require businesses operating in the LPG sector to obtain the necessary licences and comply with their conditions.
They also require LPG cylinders to be clearly branded, with only legitimate brand owners allowed to refill and trade in the cylinders. Wandayi said the regulator works with the National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to combat illegal activities in the sector.
He said when illegally refilled cylinders are confiscated, authorities follow due process, including taking an inventory in the presence of the regulator, police and the operator involved.
“The operator is accorded a fair hearing before any legal or administrative action is taken,” Wandayi said.
The regulations also provide for a central LPG cylinder tracking system to monitor purchases and sales of cylinders and improve transparency and accountability.
All cylinders are required to be serialized for traceability. Wandayi clarified that procurement of the tracking system is yet to be completed and will be undertaken in accordance with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act.
He also said the government was working to implement changes that bring LPG into the common petroleum import system, which has been used for other petroleum products for the past 23 years.
“LPG safety is paramount to the consumer,” Wandayi said, urging politicians to refrain from attacking public officers and law enforcement agencies carrying out their duties.
He assured the public that the government would continue enforcing the law against illegal LPG operations.