President William Ruto has said his administration is in the process of lowering prices of cooking gas across the country.
Speaking during the re-launch of the Women Enterprise Fund and Second Product of the Hustler Fund at KICC, Ruto said a 6 kg gas cylinder will reduce to either Sh300 or Sh500 by June 2023.
"We will allocate money that will enable us to reduce cooking gas prices, we will do away with taxes and enable our women to cook without thinking about their health," he said.
Ruto said that 70 percent of women in the country are cooking using firewood, which has been a great risk to their health.
During the launch of Tiafa Gas in Dogo Kundu, Ruto pledged to remove the tax on cooking gas with an aim to eliminate the use of wood fuel.
He directed Energy CS Davis Chirchir to start working to ensure that the plan is actualised.
"Bei ya gas itapungua kwa sababu tutaondoa ile kodi yote imewekwa kwa mambo ya gas (The cost of gas will decrease because we will do away with the tax levied on the same)," he said.
The President said the deduction on the cost of gas will result in health safety for Kenyans and restoration of the environment by reducing the number of trees fallen for firewood and charcoal.
"So Waziri you have the marching orders and you know what you must do so that in three years every household in Kenya has subsidized cooking gas," he said.
He added that in terms of the cost of the cylinder, they will look into it to see whether the cylinders can be given for free or charged at a minimum fee.
Ruto also directed the ministry to launch a crackdown on the illegal filing of gas in the country saying it is dangerous.
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