Kaa Safe Mtaani Phase 2: Epra calls for collaborations to ensure safe use of energy, petroleum products

Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi gives his remarks at the first Epra National Stakeholders Conference at the Safari Park Hotel on March 13, 2025. /CATHY FAITH WAMAITHA

Epra held its first national stakeholders conference at the Safari Park Hotel today, Thursday, 13. The conference comes after the month-long Kaa Safe Mtaani campaign conducted in November.

This was the second phase of the campaign after a similar one in 2023. The objectives of the campaign were to sensitise members of the public on the safe use of energy products, including electricity, gas and petroleum.

Epra DG Daniel Kiptoo said statistics revealed low awareness was responsible for most domestic accidents, and stakeholders’ concerted efforts were required to heighten awareness and enhance public safety.

Low risk awareness and a lack of adherence to safety regulations were also cited as factors contributing to accidents.

“The mandate of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority is quite wide, but today we are here to specifically speak to our mandate of public education, advocacy, consumer protection, and enforcement," Kiptoo said.

The regulator, he said, is required to keep the public and industry stakeholders on the straight and narrow but, more importantly, to educate the public.

He underscored the need for collaboration with mulit-stakeholders, saying while the mandate lies with the authority, Epra does not have the capacity “to be in every village, every home, and every office when it comes to enforcing the provisions of the law, which are the Energy Act 2019 and the Petroleum Act 2019.”.

“What we are looking to do is to build a coalition of the willing, a Coalition For Safety, by bringing together a “whole-of-country” approach. Today we want to bring together government agencies, civil society, the private sector, and the community so that all of us as a country can come together to ensure that we are able to keep Kenyans safe as we utilise energy and petroleum products.” Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi, who was chief guest at the event, said.

Training throughout the value chain is a central component, as the government enhances uptake of energy products through initiatives such as the Last Mile Connectivity Programme, which targets underserved populations. Thanks to the programme, some beneficiaries interact with electricity and LPG products and the issues associated with these for the first time, the CS said.

“We are also fast tracking the Kenya Offgrid Solar Access Project... specifically in those historically marginalised counties. This means therefore that citizens who are beneficiaries also need to be educated on how to safely install and use solar to power themselves,” Wandayi said.

Consumer education includes raising their awareness of their rights, the safe use of solar and electricity, the dangers of buying substandard products, and the importance of engaging certified personnel during installations.

Wandayi highlighted the government’s commitment to transition to cleaner, greener cooking energy, as evidenced by upcoming pilot projects.

“The government is also piloting LPG for schools... to minimise overeliance on firewood. This will promote a cleaner and more environmentally friendly cooking process,” the CS said.

The emergence of energy subsectors, including biogas and bioethanol, demand unique safety requirements, further underscoring the need for sensitisation.

Acknowledging that vandalism of energy infrastructure was rampant, the Energy CS urged DPP Renson Igonga, who was present at the conference, and Epra, to prosecute those found culpable of the vice.

Epra’s Cyprian Nyakundi said most consumers are unaware of the dangers of illicit practices, including siphoning of fuel and purchasing gas from non-compliant vendors.

“We have this perception of risk that if a truck falls, I can siphon fuel before fire strats, not knowing that you can siphon that fuel but as you move along 50 metres, the fumes can still follow you,” he said.

The Kaa Safe Mtaani campaign addressed these issues through raising awareness, encouraging inclusivity by roping in consumers, energy handlers, and government entities, and encouraging ownership by rallying stakeholders to show their commitment by signing the Draft Stakeholder Pledge.

Putting the statistics into perspective, Nyakundi said more than 20 per cent of LPG is illegally refilled, increasing explosion risks.

Last year alone, the authority shut down 49 non-complaint plants. These, he said, were compliant at the time of licensing, but over time, standards were compromised owing to various factors, but the business owners failed to make necessary changes.

Jane Muthoni, chief Kariobangi South, narrated how, as subchief Viwandani at the time, she mobilised the community to safety during the Sinai tragedy that left more than 100 dead.

“I received a frantic phone call from members of the public, that time the community policing member, who told me, Madam chief, there is fire," Muthoni said.

As she headed to the disaster site, horrific scenes met her: white smoke engulfed the slum, indicating the fire was from oil, as victims came from houses—some of whom were on fire.

“So what we did with members of the public was barricade Lunga Lunga Road so that we could divert motorists to the fire site and they could take them to the hospital,” Muthoni said.

Five hundred victims required treatment. While some were taken to public hospitals, others were accommodated at the Tom Mboya Social Hall, where they received medical attention.

The tragedy marked a turning point for the local administration, which took it upon themselves to ensure safety first among residents in Industrial Area. As most of the fires in slum areas are caused by gas, Ngao embarked on a crackdown on illegal dealers of energy products.

“Most of these gas cylinders are not well calibrated. Others are gotten from illegal gas dealers. I put it on the department to ensure they also inform us on the catalogue of the persons who are authorised to trade or to sell gas,” she said.

The administrators also ensured there was access for firefighters by making passageways in the slums and undertaking training to sensitise the public. Muthoni also attributed slum fires to illegal power connections.

“I always ask myself as an individual, It takes one six years to become an electrical engineer. How will a Standard Eight [graduate] be able to network power in the slum, and this power is to the extent of turning around even a posho mill; even a welder... who aids these illegal power connectors?” she said.

Heeding the call to work together, the administrator pledged to support Epra’s initiative by mobilising local trainers to sensitise residents at sublocation level to drive change by building capacity among members of the public to disseminate safety information, thereby preempting fires and illegal dealings.

“Some of us know Epra in oil pricing, but now we are happy to know that we are together also in this safety [initiative]," she said.