Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has hit back at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his criticism of the government’s plan to register and track liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders.
Wandayi dismissed Gachagua’s allegations as unfounded, saying the government’s measures are aimed at improving safety and curbing illegal refilling and illicit trade in the LPG sector.
The CS said the government’s approach is anchored in the LPG National Growth Strategy approved by Cabinet in October 2023, which seeks to promote the transition from biomass fuels to cleaner LPG while strengthening regulation of the sector.
According to Wandayi, the Petroleum (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) Regulations, 2025, Legal Notice No. 189, were developed as part of the reforms and gazetted on November 14, 2025.
He said the regulations require LPG businesses to obtain the necessary licences, while cylinders must be clearly branded, with only legitimate brand owners authorised to refill and trade in them.
Wandayi further defended the proposed central LPG cylinder tracking system, saying it is provided for under the 2025 regulations and is intended to improve transparency and accountability by tracking the purchase and sale of LPG cylinders.
The system will also facilitate the serialisation of cylinders, enabling authorities to trace them within the supply chain.
The CS, however, rejected claims that a company had already been awarded a contract to implement the cylinder tracking system.
“The procurement of the system will be done in line with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act and other relevant laws,” Wandayi said, adding that the procurement process was still far from completion.
He accused Gachagua of misleading the public over the issue and challenged those advising the former Deputy President to familiarise themselves with the laws governing the petroleum sector.
Wandayi also linked the government’s crackdown to previous incidents involving fires associated with illegally traded or refilled gas cylinders, saying public safety remained the priority.
He warned traders involved in illegal LPG activities that enforcement agencies would intensify the crackdown until full compliance was achieved.
“We shall be relentless in pursuing you in the interest of public safety,” Wandayi said, warning those engaged in illegal refilling and trade that “the hour of reckoning is coming.”
The CS also defended officials at the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) whom Gachagua had singled out in his criticism.
Wandayi urged the former Deputy President to direct any complaints to him as the Cabinet Secretary instead of targeting individual public officers.
“Stop dragging names of hard-working public officers into your political confusion,” he said.
Wandayi maintained that EPRA works with the National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to tackle illegal activities in the LPG subsector.
He said confiscated cylinders are subjected to due process, including inventory-taking witnessed by the regulator, police and the affected operator, followed by a fair hearing before administrative or legal action is taken.
The CS also defended the government’s broader petroleum import reforms, saying Cabinet had in December 2024 approved the inclusion of LPG, heavy fuel oil and bitumen in the common petroleum import framework.
He said the subsequent regulations, Legal Notice No. 60 of 2025, were published on January 30, 2025, and had since become part of Kenyan law after being transmitted to Parliament.
Wandayi said the government would not bow to political pressure or pressure from businesses benefiting from illegal LPG trade.
He called on politicians to avoid interfering with enforcement measures designed to protect consumers, insisting that LPG safety must remain paramount.
The CS said the crackdown on illegal LPG operations would continue as authorities move to enforce the new regulatory framework across the sector.
