The Kenyan government has announced the revival of its subsidised gas cylinder distribution programme, seven years after the previous initiative stalled due to financial and logistical challenges. The move aims to accelerate the adoption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) across all 47 counties, with a focus on rural and peri-urban households still reliant on firewood and kerosene.
Through a public notice in the September 9 edition of MyGov, the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, via the State Department for Petroleum, invited reputable firms to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) for funding, procurement, and distribution of 6kg LPG cylinders, complete with seed gas and accessories. The programme forms part of the government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which highlights affordable, clean cooking energy as a key social welfare and environmental goal.
Under the proposed tripartite financing model, the government will cover 40% of the cylinder cost, including seed gas and accessories, private sector LPG companies will contribute another 40%, while consumers will pay a 20% deposit. Cylinders will be locally manufactured and equipped with track-and-trace technology under the supervision of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
Successful marketing firms will be responsible for refilling, maintaining, and supplying complete starter kits, including burners and grills, in line with the Petroleum (LPG) Regulations, 2025. Prequalified local manufacturers will collaborate with selected distributors to enhance domestic production and job creation.
In parallel, the State Department has issued a separate tender for the local manufacturing of 6kg LPG cylinders, requiring firms to demonstrate technical capacity, facilities, and compliance with Kenyan Standards. This dual tender strategy aims to strengthen the supply chain, ensure quality control, and make clean cooking energy accessible and sustainable nationwide.
Interested firms must submit proposals by Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 11 am at the Ministry’s offices in KASNEB Towers II, Nairobi. If successful, the programme could reduce dependence on biomass fuels, lower household energy costs, and contribute to environmental conservation.
