Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has unveiled plans by the government to distribute a range of gas cylinders, including 1kg containers, as part of President William Ruto's initiative to provide free Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to low-income households.

Addressing the media following a stakeholder engagement session on Friday, the CS outlined that alongside the 1kg cylinders, options in 3kg and 5kg capacities will also be made available. This move aims to address the issue of high refilling costs, which have been a barrier for many families in adopting larger 6 and 13-kg gas cylinders.

Chirchir emphasized the importance of learning from past government programs, noting that previous initiatives failed to effectively reach the target demographic due to haphazard implementation strategies.

"We aim to ensure accessibility of gas cylinders for all households below the poverty line, eliminating any obstacles to using LPG," stated Chirchir. "The lessons from past programs like 'mwananchi gas' will guide our approach to support the new gas strategy for low-income families."

Furthermore, the CS revealed ongoing efforts to empower the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to regulate gas prices, a responsibility currently limited to fuel prices. The proposed plan involves implementing open tender regulations to facilitate price discovery, with Cabinet approval already secured.

The distribution of free gas cylinders is slated to commence this year, with the Ministry of Energy aiming to supply over 60,000 units by December. The initiative targets approximately 4.5 million homes, following the announcement made by the Head of State in 2023.