Wandayi Warns Illegal LPG Dealers as Government Intensifies Crackdown

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi speaks during a briefing on the government’s intensified crackdown on illegal LPG dealers and illicit cylinder refilling cartels.

By Fride Amiani 

The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has intensified its crackdown on illegal liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dealers and illicit cylinder refilling cartels, warning operators flouting regulations that they will face sustained enforcement action.

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said the government would not relent in efforts to eliminate illegal LPG activities, which he warned pose serious risks to consumers and the wider public.

Wandayi said enforcement agencies would pursue businesses operating outside the law, insisting that the government would not allow political pressure or cartels to interfere with efforts to regulate the LPG sector.

“We shall be relentless in pursuing you in the interest of public safety; the crackdown would continue until full compliance is achieved,” Wandayi said.

The CS was responding to allegations raised by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who criticised the government’s handling of LPG cylinders seized from traders and questioned the conduct of officials at the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).

Wandayi dismissed the allegations as unfounded but said the government was compelled to respond because the issues raised directly concerned consumer safety.

He said LPG safety remained a priority for the government, particularly as Kenya seeks to increase the use of clean cooking fuels and reduce dependence on biomass energy.

“LPG safety is paramount to the consumer. The government’s crackdown is anchored in the LPG National Growth Strategy approved by Cabinet in October 2023, which seeks to increase the use of LPG as part of Kenya’s transition away from biomass fuels,” Wandayi said.

According to the CS, regulatory reform is one of the key pillars of the strategy and is intended to eliminate illegal refilling and trading of LPG cylinders.

He said the regulations require businesses involved in the LPG sector to obtain the necessary licences and comply with conditions attached to those licences.

The regulations also provide for stronger identification and traceability of cylinders while restricting refilling and trading activities to authorised operators.

The 2025 regulations establish a central LPG cylinder tracking system designed to monitor the purchase and sale of cylinders and improve accountability across the supply chain.

Under the system, every filled cylinder is required to have its serial number paired with an authority-issued seal number, allowing consumers and regulators to establish whether a cylinder has undergone an authorised refill.

Wandayi, however, rejected claims that a company had already secured a contract to operate the cylinder tracking system.

He said the procurement process would be conducted in accordance with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act and other applicable laws, noting that the process was still at an early stage.

“The procurement of the cylinder tracking system will be undertaken in accordance with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act and other applicable laws,” he said.

The regulations further require businesses across the LPG cylinder supply chain to maintain records that enable regulators to trace cylinders and transactions.

Wandayi said EPRA was working closely with the National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to identify illegal operators and enforce compliance.

He explained that when illegally refilled cylinders are seized, authorities are required to document the items and give affected operators an opportunity to be heard before legal or administrative action is taken.

The government’s intensified enforcement comes amid growing concerns over the safety risks associated with the illegal LPG trade.

Kenya has in the past witnessed fires and other incidents linked to the illegal handling, storage and refilling of gas cylinders, prompting calls for tighter regulation of the sector.

Wandayi maintained that the government’s actions were aimed at protecting consumers and ensuring that all LPG businesses comply with established safety and regulatory requirements.

He warned traders involved in unauthorised refilling and other illegal activities that enforcement operations would continue until compliance is achieved.

The government is also seeking to expand LPG use as part of its broader clean cooking agenda, making effective regulation and traceability increasingly important as more households adopt the fuel.

Wandayi said the government would therefore continue working with enforcement agencies and sector regulators to ensure that only licensed and compliant operators participate in the LPG supply chain.

The CS urged legitimate businesses to comply with the regulations while warning illegal operators that the government would not compromise public safety in the interest of protecting individuals or businesses operating outside the law.