Petroleum cabinet Secretary Hon.Opiyo Wandayi reaffirmed Wednesday the government’s commitment to enforcing strict regulatory and safety standards in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) sector, warning that a nationwide crackdown on illegal operations will be intensified until full compliance is achieved.
According to the Wandayi, the government is executing the LPG National Growth Strategy, approved by Cabinet in October 2023, aimed at accelerating the clean energy transition from biomass to LPG while reinforcing legal frameworks to eliminate illicit refilling and illegal trade that jeopardize public safety.
The country’s LPG sub-sector is regulated by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) under the framework of the Energy Act and the Petroleum Act. Under the Petroleum (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) (No. 2) Regulations, 2025, all operators must obtain valid licenses and adhere strictly to operational conditions, including clear cylinder branding and mandatory refilling authorization by legitimate brand owners.
Wandayi highlighted that EPRA is collaborating closely with the National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to dismantle illegal syndicates. Law enforcement operations follow strict statutory protocols, including joint inventory verification witnessed by operators prior to judicial or administrative proceedings.
To boost supply chain transparency, the government is moving forward with plans to establish a centralized digital LPG cylinder tracking system. Under current regulations, cylinders will be serialized to guarantee end-to-end traceability across the market. Procurement for the tracking system is undergoing standard processing in accordance with national public procurement laws.
The government has also integrated LPG into the regulated common petroleum import system following Cabinet authorization and the subsequent gazettement of the Petroleum (Importation) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025.
The ministry called on political leaders to cease attacks on law enforcement officers and regulatory inspectors executing their constitutional mandate, maintaining that official enforcement actions will proceed without interference.
“The government will not succumb to pressure from politicians and cartels intent on benefiting from the illicit LPG trade,” Wandayi added.
Reiterating that consumer protection remains a top priority, energy authorities confirmed that law enforcement measures against non-compliant LPG traders will continue unabated across the country.