The City of Kisumu has announced sweeping measures to curb the rising threat of gas-related accidents by intensifying regulations governing dealers and distributors of Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
City manager Abala Wanga, in a statement to the media, said the move was part of his mandate on emergency preparedness and disaster management, following growing public concern over unsafe gas handling and distribution in the area.
Among the measures, he said, is to have all the dealers issued with the city’s single business permit for effective tracing and monitoring of their operations.
“Effective immediately, no gas dealer will be allowed to operate within Kisumu without a valid single business permit issued by the City or county government,” the statement read.
Under the new directive, all trucks and motorbikes engaged in LPG distribution will be required to carry only one brand of gas cylinders, a measure aimed at enforcing accountability and traceability in case of accidents.
Additionally, vehicles transporting gas must now be clearly branded with the name and logo of the gas company they represent and must possess a valid branding permit issued by the county.
Drivers and riders will also be required to display official identification badges from their brand owners, while every dealer must present written authorisation from the gas company permitting them to distribute its products.
Wanga said the directives were meant to protect lives and businesses, noting that the city would work closely with the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority and other stakeholders in the gas sector to ensure strict compliance.
“These measures are not punitive but preventive. We must safeguard our residents from avoidable disasters resulting from unlicensed and unsafe gas handling,” he said.
The crackdown comes amid increased incidents of gas explosions and illegal refilling operations in urban areas, some of which have resulted in fatalities and property losses.
Wanga warned that the city will begin routine inspections and enforcement operations targeting non-compliant dealers, adding that errant operators risk closure of their outlets and prosecution.
