Photo Caption:Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi (center) addresses the media on LPG enforcement measures in Nairobi on August 26, 2026.
NAIROBI, August 26, 2026 — The Government has defended its enforcement measures in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector following criticism by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, saying the ongoing crackdown on illegal refilling and illicit trade is necessary to protect public safety.
Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi said the Government was compelled to respond to Gachagua’s remarks because they touched on the safety of LPG consumers, maintaining that enforcement operations were being conducted within the law.
Speaking during a media briefing in Nairobi, Wandayi said Cabinet approved the LPG National Growth Strategy in October 2023 to facilitate the transition from biomass to LPG, which is a cleaner source of energy.
“One of the key thematic areas in the growth strategy is legal and regulatory reforms in the LPG sector, whose primary objective is to curb illegal refilling and illicit trade of LPG, since it is a big threat to public safety,” said Wandayi.
Wandayi said the LPG sector is regulated by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) under the Energy Act, Cap. 314, and the Petroleum Act, Cap. 308, adding that the Petroleum (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) (No. 2) Regulations, 2025, were developed to operationalise the laws and implement the national growth strategy.
The regulations, contained in Legal Notice No. 189 of 2025 and gazetted on November 14, 2025, require all persons undertaking LPG businesses to obtain operational licences and comply with prescribed licence conditions.
They also require LPG cylinders to be clearly branded, with only legitimate brand owners allowed to refill and trade in the cylinders.The CS said EPRA works with the National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to combat illegal activities in the LPG subsector, adding that confiscation of illegally refilled cylinders follows established procedures.
He explained that inventory-taking is witnessed by EPRA officials, police and the affected operator, who is subsequently accorded a fair hearing before any legal or administrative action is taken.Wandayi said the regulations further provide for a central LPG cylinder tracking system to monitor purchases and sales and enhance transparency and accountability among market players.
“The procurement of the system will be done in line with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, and for avoidance of doubt, such a process is far from completion,” he said.
Wandayi also defended the common petroleum import system, saying Kenya had operated the framework for Super Petrol, Diesel and Jet A-1/Kerosene for 23 years, with benefits in terms of price and quality.
He said Cabinet recommended in December 2024 that Heavy Fuel Oil, Bitumen and LPG be incorporated into the legal framework governing the common petroleum import system, resulting in the Petroleum (Importation) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025, published on March 21, 2025.
Addressing Gachagua’s criticism, Wandayi said the Government could not ignore statements touching on public safety, even as he accused the former Deputy President of making unfounded allegations.
“Ordinarily we would have ignored him, because I think now Kenyans are used to his ranting. But because the matters he talked about touch on the safety of the Kenyan public, we have had to come out and put the record straight,” said Wandayi.
He urged politicians to refrain from attacking public officers and law enforcement agencies carrying out their statutory duties, saying the Government would continue enforcing LPG regulations despite political pressure.
He assured Kenyans that the Government would intensify efforts to ensure compliance among LPG dealers and protect consumers from risks associated with illegal refilling and illicit trade.
“The crackdown on illegal LPG operations will be intensified until full compliance is achieved,” said Wandayi.
