According to the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, local companies have been invited to show interest in producing six-kilogram LPG cylinders under a cost-sharing programme.
The arrangement will see the government cover 40 percent of the cost, LPG marketing firms another 40 percent, while households will only contribute 20 percent.
Officials say the move is part of efforts to increase access to clean cooking energy, especially in rural and low-income urban areas where most families still depend on charcoal and kerosene.
“The cylinders will be made in Kenya and distributed in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda,” the ministry stated.
Each cylinder will come with accessories such as burners and grills to ensure families can start using them immediately.
LPG marketing firms will take responsibility for refilling and maintaining the cylinders in line with the Petroleum Regulations of 2025.
To improve safety and accountability, the cylinders will also be fitted with track-and-trace technology overseen by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
This will allow regulators to monitor refilling and prevent illegal handling of the subsidised cylinders.
The government has made it clear that only prequalified manufacturers with proven capacity will be allowed to take part in the programme.
Companies interested must show they have the technical skills, facilities, and resources to deliver.
For years, many Kenyans have waited for cheaper gas, a promise President Ruto made to ease the cost of living.
In 2023, he pledged that gas cylinders would retail for between Ksh300 and Ksh500 by mid-year, a target that never materialised.
This new cost-sharing approach is expected to lower the burden on households while also supporting local manufacturing.
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