The government has revealed that Kenya’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption reduced in 2023 to 6.8 kg per capita compared to 8 kg registered in 2022 due to the rising fuel cost.

Speaking on Friday during the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Growth Strategy workshop, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary (CS) Davis Chirchir said the country's capital is wholly dependent on imported LPG, and weaker shilling in 2023 increased its retail price to consumers.

“The high cost of LPG pushed more low-income households to rely on firewood, charcoal and kerosene for cooking,” Chirchir said.

On his part, Daniel Kiptoo, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority Director General (DG), Daniel Kiptoo said that Kenya is promoting the uptake of LPG because it is a clean fuel that emits fewer pollutants compared to biomass-burning stoves.

Kiptoo said that to reverse the decline in household consumption of LPG the government has allocated 2.4 billion shillings to subsidize the purchase of LPG cylinders by 4.5 million low-income households.

He added that the country targets increasing LPG per capita consumption to 10 kg by 2026.