Petroleum Department

27/08/2026

Government Intensifies Crackdown on Illegal LPG Trade

The government has vowed to intensify its crackdown on illegal liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) operations, warning politicians and cartels against interfering with enforcement agencies as they carry out their duties.
In a statement, the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Hon, Opiyo Wandayi, said the crackdown was necessary to protect consumers and curb illegal refilling and illicit trade in LPG, which the government considers a threat to public safety.

The Cabinet Secretary said the government approved the LPG National Growth Strategy in October 2023 to accelerate the transition from biomass to LPG, a cleaner source of energy. The strategy identifies legal and regulatory reforms as a key component in addressing illegal activities in the sector.

The LPG industry is regulated by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) under the Energy Act and the Petroleum Act.

To strengthen enforcement, the government gazetted the Petroleum (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) (No. 2) Regulations, 2025, under Legal Notice 189 of 2025, on November 14th, 2025.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, the regulations require all LPG businesses to obtain the necessary operational licences and comply with licence conditions. They also require LPG cylinders to be clearly branded, with only legitimate brand owners authorized to refill and trade in cylinders bearing their brands.

The Cabinet Secretary said EPRA is working with the National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to combat illegal activities in the LPG sub-sector.

The statement also sought to address concerns over the handling of confiscated cylinders. The Cabinet Secretary said when illegally refilled cylinders are seized, authorities undertake an inventory in the presence of EPRA officials, police officers and the affected operator. "The operator is then given an opportunity to be heard before any legal or administrative action is taken”, the Cabinet Secretary said.

The government is also moving to establish a central LPG cylinder tracking system. The regulations provide for a system to track the purchase and sale of LPG cylinders and improve transparency and accountability among market players.
All cylinders will also be required to be serialized to facilitate traceability.
However, the Cabinet Secretary clarified that procurement of the tracking system has not been completed.
“The procurement of the system will be done in line with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act,” the Cabinet Secretary said, adding that the process was “far from completion.”
The statement further addressed the government's common petroleum import system, which has been in operation for 23 years for products including Super Petrol, Diesel and JET A-1/Kerosene.
The Cabinet Secretary said the system has delivered benefits in terms of price and quality and that the Cabinet recommended in December 2024 that Heavy Fuel Oil, Bitumen and LPG be incorporated into the legal framework governing common petroleum imports.
The Petroleum (Importation) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025, under Legal Notice No. 60 of 2025, were subsequently published on March 21, 2025.
The Ministry, the Cabinet Secretary said, has been working with stakeholders to ensure compliance with the new requirements.
The Cabinet Secretary warned against political interference in enforcement operations, saying LPG safety remains a priority for consumers.
“I wish to further urge politicians to refrain from attacks to public officers and law enforcement agencies legitimately performing their duties as required by law,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
The government, the Cabinet Secretary added, would not bow to pressure from politicians or cartels seeking to profit from illegal LPG trade.
“The crackdown on illegal LPG operations will be intensified until full compliance is achieved,” the Cabinet Secretary said.

25/07/2026

21/07/2026

Petroleum Department team led by PS Kello Harsama today appeared before the Nation Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by HON. TINDI MWALE , MP Butere Constituency, to respond to queries arising from the Office of Auditor General's examination of the Petroleum Department for the Financial Years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.
PS Kello Harsama clarified on matters raised in the report and reaffirmed the Deparment's commitment to prudent financial management, compliance with PFM Act and strengthening of governance and accountability systems in the delivery of its mandate.

21/07/2026

Today, officers from the Public Service Performance and Management Unit conducted the FY 2026/27 Performance Contracting (PC) vetting exercise for the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum at Kawi House Complex.

The Petroleum Department delegation was led by Secretary Administration, Mohamed Birik, while the State Department for Energy was led by Secretary Administration, David Wanyonyi. Mr. Birik urged all officers to prioritize and maximize efforts on PC implementation to deliver on key strategic goals.

Notable metric adjustments for the upcoming financial year include the Productivity Index increasing from 3 to 10, and Financial Stewardship decreasing from 10 to 8, reflecting a stronger focus on output and efficiency.

15/07/2026

Petroleum Department PS Kello Harsama today in his office hosted representatives of the Oil Marketers Association of Kenya.
They held a fruitful discussion on matters of mutual interest including the critical role of collaboration in strengthening Kenya's Petroleum sector.

14/07/2026

https://x.com/OpiyoWandayi/status/2076983065889439902/video/1

14/07/2026

In line with the Government's commitment to shielding households and businesses from the effects of international market volatility, and in consultation with the National Treasury, the application period for the 8% VAT on petroleum products has been extended for a further three months, until 14th October 2026. Further, during the July–August 2026 pricing cycle, the Government will deploy a KSh 945 million subsidy from the Petroleum Development Levy to ensure petroleum products remain as affordable as possible under prevailing global market conditions.
This was in a speech read to the media by the Ministry of Energy,and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary, Opiyo Wandayi at Kasneb Towers today.

Accompanying the CS was Petroleum Department Principal Secretary PS Kello Harsama .

03/07/2026

Constructive engagement with Oil Marketing Companies remains critical to strengthening Kenya's petroleum sector and ensuring a stable, efficient, and sustainable fuel supply.

This morning, Petroleum Department PS Kello Harsama held a consultative meeting with members of the Oil Tactical Exchange of Kenya (OTEK) and the Oil Marketers Association of Kenya (OMAK) in Nairobi, where he reaffirmed the Government's commitment to creating a fair, predictable, and profitable operating environment for all industry players.

The meeting discussed key issues affecting the sector, including port demurrage charges and operational bottlenecks. The PS assured stakeholders that the Government will address the root causes of shipping delays and any unfair penalties that hinder the efficient supply of petroleum products.

The PS added that the Government has released KSh 7.9 billion in fuel subsidy payments for the May/June cycle, and urged Oil Marketing Companies to submit their invoices on time to facilitate the timely processing of future disbursements.

On the issue of illegal LPG refilling, he emphasized that the Government will intensify nationwide enforcement measures to protect consumers, safeguard investments, and uphold safety standards across the sector.

The PS also reaffirmed the govedrnment's commitment to sustained dialogue and collaboration with industry stakeholders to strengthen Kenya's petroleum industry.

Also present were Commissioner for Petroleum, Joseph C. Otieno, and the Acting Director General of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), Dr. Eng. Joseph Oketch,