This archive report was first published on 2 September 2019.
When the government announced a subsidized gas project in October 2016, it brought a glimmer of hope to Kenyans who relied heavily on firewood and kerosene for cooking. These energy sources were not only inefficient but also posed serious health risks due to toxic fumes.
Launched under the Gas Yetu brand, the project aimed to safeguard the poor from respiratory diseases caused by firewood and contain the rampant destruction of forests. The project was allocated KSh2.2 billion for the period 2017-2019, with an additional KSh700 million allocated through a supplementary budget, raising the total cost to KSh2.9 billion.
Initially, the project aimed to provide subsidized 6kg cooking gas cylinders to millions of households at a cost of KSh 2,000. The cylinders were to be refilled at a cost of only KSh840 per cylinder. However, the project was shelved two years after its launch, with Energy and Mining Principal Secretary Eng. Joseph Njoroge citing budget issues as the reason.
However, an investigation into the project's collapse reveals a different story. It appears that Pro Gas owner Mohammed Jaffer had a well-calculated plan to kill the project. The investigation reveals that Jaffer's company had a significant stake in the importation of gas from Tanzania, which was found to contain high levels of propane and lacked the essential chemical additive ethyl mercaptan.
The investigation also reveals that gas entering Kenya from Tanzania was not subjected to quality tests, unlike gas coming in through the Mombasa port. This lack of quality control posed serious health risks to consumers.
